Portret van boekverzamelaar Isaac Gosset c. 1800 - 1812

This print, “Portret van boekverzamelaar Isaac Gosset,” was made by an anonymous artist, and depicts Isaac Gosset, an 18th-century book collector and seller. Gosset, of French Huguenot descent, was part of a marginalized religious group who fled persecution in France. In the print Gosset is hunched over a desk littered with catalogs and papers, and we can see that he is holding a pamphlet titled “Hudibras”. The artist exaggerated Gosset's features. His prominent nose, thick lips, and wide-brimmed hat create a caricature, possibly reflecting biases against outsiders or the less-than-esteemed profession of book selling. The text at the bottom describes the print as: “A Pretty Copy after an Unique Original- Very Cheap Very Cheap Indeed Sir”. The print’s humor relies on the era's social and economic tensions. The artist plays with notions of identity, class, and cultural belonging, inviting us to consider how those on the margins were perceived and represented. Though a caricature, there is humanity in the portrait, because it captures Gosset’s love for the written word, a passion that transcends social barriers.