Portret van Hendrik Hollander Cz. 1853

Moritz Calisch made this pencil drawing of Hendrik Hollander in the Netherlands. The soft shading and intimate scale give it a personal feel. It reflects the cultural value placed on portraiture and the depiction of the individual, especially among the Dutch middle classes. This image creates meaning through visual codes of dress and pose. Hollander's fashionable coat and carefully arranged scarf indicate his social standing, reflecting the economic prosperity of the Netherlands at the time. We see the growing importance of the individual within a society becoming increasingly focused on commerce and trade. The Rijksmuseum, where this drawing is housed, plays a role in shaping our understanding of Dutch history and identity, reinforcing the idea of a shared cultural heritage. To fully understand this portrait, historians might consult period fashion plates, genealogical records, and studies of Dutch social history. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context.