Portret van Laurens Jansz. Coster 1809 - 1869

Alexander Cranendoncq created this portrait of Laurens Jansz. Coster in the 19th century with engraving. This image speaks to the rise of national historical consciousness in the Netherlands during that period. Laurens Jansz. Coster was, according to folklore, the inventor of a printing press using movable type, an invention that would revolutionize the spread of information and the growth of knowledge. Yet Coster’s story is also an assertion of Dutch identity at a time when the country’s sovereignty was far from assured. The piece acts as a cultural reference for the Netherlands, but what interests me most is the way institutions shape artistic production. The image's creation and display are tied to the development of national museums in the 19th century, institutions dedicated to educating and unifying the public around shared historical narratives. By studying archives and collections, we can understand the complex social and institutional forces that shaped its creation and its enduring meaning.