Portret van Willem Hendrik Schmidt Possibly 1814 - 1874

Bernard van de Laar rendered this portrait of Willem Hendrik Schmidt in graphite. Van de Laar, active in the first half of the 19th century, operated within a society that was slowly emerging from the shadow of aristocratic rule and beginning to embrace a more bourgeois ideal, a shift reflected in the intimate scale and accessible medium of this work. This portrait embodies the negotiation of identity prevalent during this period, particularly for men. We see Schmidt rendered with an emphasis on his intellectual bearing, yet there’s also a distinct absence of overt markers of wealth or status. The simplicity of the graphite medium lends itself to an honesty, and the artist seems to suggest a move away from the ostentatious displays of power. What do you make of the artist’s rendering of expression, and how does it convey particular social messages about identity? As we engage with this work, we might consider how the subtle nuances of portraiture reflect broader changes in societal values and the negotiation of identity during a period of transformation.