Portret van Hendrik Spilman

Pieter Louw made this drawing of Hendrik Spilman sometime in the 18th century. Louw presents Spilman as a man of the Dutch Enlightenment. Spilman’s clothing tells us a great deal about his status. The powdered wig, the hat, the coat with its buttons, and the lace cuffs all speak to his high social standing. He is a member of the upper class in the Dutch Republic. Although we do not know when the drawing was made, we can surmise that it reflects the time just before the Batavian Revolution, when Patriots inspired by the American and French revolutions sought to topple the ruling House of Orange. As such, this image gives us a glimpse into the elite culture of the period just before it was overturned. If we want to understand the context in which the drawing was made, we might consult period newspapers, pamphlets, and other images. These can reveal the codes and conventions by which social status was represented and how the revolution changed those conventions.