Portret van Charles Howard Hodges 1841 - 1842

This small portrait of Charles Howard Hodges was made by an anonymous artist, with unknown materials. Its diminutive size suggests it was made for a locket or keepsake, and the etching medium meant it could be reproduced and shared with intimates. Hodges was an English painter active in the Netherlands at the end of the 18th century and beginning of the 19th. Hodges specialized in portraits, and like many artists, had to find ways to survive in a changing political landscape. After the Batavian Revolution, when the Dutch Republic was replaced by the French-controlled Batavian Republic, Hodges painted portraits of the new political elites. The fact that the maker of this portrait remains anonymous reminds us that art history tends to focus on famous names, and the cultural institutions that consecrate them, while often ignoring the contributions of other artists. Art historians piece together the stories of these lesser-known figures through archival research and careful attention to the social networks in which they operated. This helps us understand the complex social conditions that shape artistic production.