Portret van Jan Kobell 1807 - 1875

Christiaan Kramm made this portrait of Jan Kobell in the early 19th century, using pencil on paper. Kramm was working during a time when the Netherlands was redefining itself after the Napoleonic era. Consider how portraiture, like this one, served specific social functions. It was less about capturing an exact likeness, and more about conveying social status and character. Notice the sitter's composed demeanor and fashionable attire. These details speak to the values of the emerging Dutch middle class, who wanted to be seen as respectable and cultured. The Rijksmuseum, where this portrait is housed, plays a role too. It was established to showcase national art and history, reinforcing a particular view of Dutch identity. To understand this work fully, you might explore the archives of art academies, which shaped artistic training, and delve into genealogical records, which reveal the social networks of the sitters and artists. Art is always embedded in a web of social and institutional relationships.