Portret van Andries van der Kruissen 1827 - 1889

This small engraving by Edouard Dujardin depicts Andries van der Kruissen, a 17th-century theologian from Ameland in the Netherlands. The portrait is framed by an oval border, with a banner bearing his name and titles. This kind of formal presentation reflects the social structures of the time, where the church and scholarly institutions played a central role in shaping identity and status. The detailed rendering of his features and clothing suggests the importance of accurately representing social standing. The image creates meaning through visual codes and cultural references. The Latin inscriptions and heraldic symbols point to the cultural and intellectual milieu of the Dutch Golden Age, a period of intense religious and political debate. By researching archival documents and theological texts, historians can further illuminate the social and institutional contexts that shaped both the life of van der Kruissen and the production of this portrait. Ultimately, our understanding of this artwork is contingent upon a deeper knowledge of its social and institutional history.