Zelfportret van Jan Brandes 1806 1806

Jan Brandes made this self-portrait in 1806, using graphite on paper. Brandes shows himself as a man of the cloth, a minister. We can read this image as an exercise in self-fashioning within the context of the Dutch Reformed Church. The historical associations of the clothing and the sober tone of the portrait, made in the Netherlands, suggest the desire to project an image of piety, knowledge and service to God. We should consider the political dimensions of such imagery. After the Batavian Revolution of 1795, the Dutch Reformed Church was disestablished, losing its privileged status. This portrait may be seen as an assertion of the continued relevance and moral authority of the clergy. It does not critique the institutions of art. The interpretation of this artwork is contingent on this social and institutional context. Research into the history of the Dutch Reformed Church and its role in Dutch society could shed further light on the message Brandes intended to convey through this self-portrait.