Buste van Jan Jacob Lodewijk ten Kate (1819-1889), dichter 1889

This is a marble bust of Jan Jacob Lodewijk ten Kate, a well-known 19th-century Dutch poet, created by Bart van Hove. In the Netherlands, portrait busts like this one were often commissioned by wealthy patrons or institutions to commemorate important figures. Ten Kate was a celebrated figure in his time, known for his religious and patriotic verse. Van Hove's choice of marble as a medium emphasizes the permanence and importance of the sitter, linking him to a classical tradition of commemorating notable individuals. Consider the social context in which such a bust would have been displayed, perhaps in a public space or a private collection. The bust becomes a symbol of cultural and national identity, reinforcing particular values and ideals. To understand this work more fully, we might consult archival records, literary criticism of Ten Kate's poetry, and studies of Dutch art institutions of the time. This gives us a better understanding of the complex social and cultural forces that shaped its meaning and reception.