Portret van Nicolaas Cornelis de Fremery 1830

This is Willem Jan Paling Jz.’s portrait of Nicolaas Cornelis de Fremery, made using etching and possibly other techniques. The portrait is set within a stone-like oval frame with a plaque underneath bearing the sitter’s name. De Fremery, whose dates are 1767 to 1844, held a position as President of the High Court of Holland and West Friesland. The attire and decoration shown here, emphasize his place within the judicial and social structures of the Netherlands in the 18th and 19th century. It's hard not to think about the history of justice, who has access to it, and who is excluded. In his portrait, De Fremery is captured looking directly at us. The overall effect is one of authority and perhaps a little distance. The rendering, typical of the time, is an example of how portraiture functioned to solidify the identity and status of its subjects. It’s interesting to think about how traditional representations like this impact our view of leadership and social standing even today.