Portret van Guilaume Anne van der Brugghen 1841 - 1842

Coenraad Hamburger captured this portrait of Guilaume Anne van der Brugghen using pencil on paper. Hamburger, born in the Netherlands, was working during a time of significant social and political change in Europe. In this delicate portrait we see van der Brugghen, likely a man of some means given the nature of portraiture at the time, styled with a certain romantic flair. His gaze is direct, but his slightly unkempt hair and loosely tied cravat suggest a departure from the rigid formality typically associated with earlier portraiture. It speaks to the changing norms around masculinity and representation that were emerging in the 19th century. This intimate portrayal offers us a glimpse into the personal and social identity of its subject during a transformative period. Consider the subtle ways in which van der Brugghen, through his clothing and demeanor, might have been signaling his own alignment with emerging cultural values. How does this image, in its quiet way, challenge or reinforce the power structures of its time?