Portret van Dirk Molenaar 1842 - 1887

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this portrait of Dirk Molenaar using lithography. Molenaar is depicted seated, holding a book, a symbol laden with historical and cultural significance. The book, as a motif, transcends time. Consider its presence in ancient Egyptian depictions of scribes, holding papyrus scrolls, or the codices held by evangelists in medieval Christian art. The book embodies knowledge, wisdom, and often spiritual insight. But its meaning shifts: once a symbol of elite status, it evolved into a more democratized symbol of education. In Molenaar's hands, the book speaks to his intellectual pursuits and perhaps his social standing. The subconscious appeal of the book lies in its promise of unlocking hidden truths and understanding, a powerful psychological draw that has resonated across centuries. The portrait captures not just an individual, but the ongoing human quest for knowledge, visualized through the enduring symbol of the book.