Portret van Harmen Henrik van de Poll 1772 - 1780

Jacob Houbraken created this portrait of Harmen Henrik van de Poll using etching and engraving techniques. Flourishing in the Dutch Golden Age, Houbraken navigated a society deeply structured by class and civic duty. Van de Poll, as a regent and mayor of Amsterdam, was part of an elite class whose identity was deeply entwined with their position in the city's governance. This portrait encapsulates the visual language of power of the time, echoing the traditional representations of male authority. It portrays a man of the upper class, with his powdered wig and formal attire; yet, it is also a depiction of an individual. The artist presents us with the social expectations of the time. It prompts us to consider the impact of the Dutch Golden Age on shaping personal and civic identities. What did it cost Van de Poll to maintain this image of power? What aspects of himself might have been suppressed or compromised?