Portret van Cornelis van Bynkershoek 1746

This is Pieter Tanjé’s engraving of Cornelis van Bynkershoek, created in the Netherlands in 1746. It depicts a man framed by an oval cartouche and framed within a rectangular border. His garments and wig are those of an upper-class gentleman and state official of the Dutch Republic. What can an image like this tell us about the society in which it was made? The Dutch Republic in the eighteenth century was a mercantile society that invested heavily in the rule of law. Van Bynkershoek was a key figure in establishing legal frameworks for international trade. His prominence is captured by the trappings of status and power. But the print also speaks to the Dutch investment in institutions of knowledge. The Rijksmuseum preserves this image, telling a story of Dutch history. We can also research Dutch archives to better understand the economic and social history of the country during Van Bynkershoek’s lifetime.