Portret van Adriaen Joosten van Bergen 1797 - 1836

Philippus Velijn made this portrait of Adriaen Joosten van Bergen using etching and burin techniques sometime around the early 19th century. It’s a period when the Dutch art world was grappling with its identity in the wake of major political and social upheavals. Looking at this print, one might consider the politics of portraiture. How does Velijn use visual cues to convey van Bergen's status and character? The fine details, achieved through etching and burin, suggest a desire for accuracy and realism, qualities valued in Dutch art since the Golden Age. The sitter’s clothing and the medallion point to a man of status. But what social role does this image play? Was it commissioned by the sitter, or created for a broader public? Exploring archives and historical records might reveal the answers. In doing so, we can get a better sense of how art like this reflected and shaped the social norms of its time.