Portret van D. van Vlissenhoven 1873 - 1914

Willem Philip van der Veken created this print, titled *Portret van D. van Vlissenhoven*, sometime after his birth in 1863. The portrait reflects the visual language of 19th-century bourgeois portraiture, which often served to reinforce social hierarchies and notions of masculinity. Consider the sitter's stern gaze, formal attire, and the artist's attention to detail, all of which contribute to a sense of authority and status. But, what do we know about D. van Vlissenhoven? Who was he in relation to the artist, and what might this portrait reveal about their connection? How does the act of memorializing this particular individual through art speak to the values and power structures of the time? As you reflect on this image, think about the countless untold stories of those who were never afforded the opportunity to be represented in art. In whose image do we choose to reflect society?