Portret van Jean Niguet 1820 - 1872

Hendrik Abraham Klinkhamer created this pencil drawing, "Portret van Jean Niguet," sometime in the 19th century. Klinkhamer was active during a period of significant social and political change in the Netherlands. This portrait offers a glimpse into the visual language of status and identity during the 1800s. The sitter's attire, particularly the high ruff collar and elaborate doublet, evokes a sense of formality and tradition. In many ways the Dutch were obsessed with class, as anyone who reads Multatuli's Max Havelaar knows. What does it mean to adopt the visual cues of a bygone era? This drawing seems to invoke an almost theatrical representation of identity, inviting us to consider the ways in which people perform their social roles. It is a powerful meditation on how we choose to present ourselves to the world, and how those choices reflect the complex interplay of history, identity, and social expectation.