Portret van Petrus van Schendel c. 1841 - 1921

This is an engraving of Petrus van Schendel by an anonymous artist. The composition centers on Van Schendel's head and shoulders. He is captured in a suit jacket and patterned hat, with a high frilled collar. The proliferation of printed images in 19th-century Europe changed visual culture. Engravings democratized access to portraiture, circulating images beyond elite circles. This portrait's style reflects the conventions of the time, but the absence of the artist's name raises questions. Was it commissioned? Was it a commercial venture? The cultural status of the sitter, the artist, and the social function of the image would require further research in archives of publishers, artists' societies, and period newspapers. This portrait reminds us that the meaning of art is always contingent on its original social and institutional context.