Karikatuurportret van Johannes Didericus Doorman 1836 - 1899

Elchanon Verveer made this caricature portrait of Johannes Didericus Doorman using graphite. Caricatures use exaggeration to humorously comment on a person’s character. Made in the Netherlands, this drawing can tell us a lot about the sitter’s social standing and the artist’s critical perspective. Doorman is presented as a well-to-do gentleman, indicated by his formal suit, beard, glasses, and cigar. By exaggerating his forehead, Verveer wittily hints at Doorman's intellectualism. The hand in his pocket, the other holding a cigar suggest a certain nonchalance or even arrogance. To fully understand this drawing, one must look into the social context of the Netherlands at the time. What was the relationship between artists and their patrons? What was considered humorous or critical? By researching archives, newspapers and other historical documents, we might learn more about the cultural meanings embedded in this image. Only then can we begin to understand the complex social dynamics it reflects.