Portret van Wouterus de Nooy 1798 - 1826

Ernst Willem Jan Bagelaar created this portrait of Wouterus de Nooy using etching, a printmaking technique that allows for fine lines and detailed shading. Bagelaar was working in a period of significant social and political upheaval, including the rise of the middle class and the Napoleonic Wars, when images of public figures became increasingly important in shaping identity and political discourse. Consider how dress, particularly the high top hat, speaks to the sitter's status and role within society. Wouterus’s identity is carefully constructed through these visual cues, presenting him as a figure of authority and respectability. It is interesting to reflect on the gaze in this work; it is very direct and slightly unnerving. This portrait offers a glimpse into the visual language of power and status during a transformative era. What does it mean to be seen, and who gets to decide how we are represented?