Portret van Léopold de Wael 1831 - 1890

Jean Baptiste Pierre Michiels created this print of Léopold de Wael using etching and drypoint. Although undated, it likely comes from the second half of the 19th century. The portrait depicts a man of stature, likely commissioned to commemorate his importance. Consider the context of 19th-century Europe, particularly in a place like Belgium. The emphasis on portraiture reflects the values of a rising bourgeois class. The symbols of status – his coat, the medals, the family crest – speak volumes about the social structures of the time. This etching provides a window into the institutional and social frameworks that supported and celebrated figures like Léopold de Wael. To understand this image more fully, we might delve into genealogical records, local histories, and studies of Belgian society during this period. By exploring these resources, we can better understand the social and institutional contexts in which this portrait was created and consumed.