Portret van Jan Coenraad Koopman

About this artwork

height 200 mm x width 148 mm

Art Historical Context

Welcome to our virtual gallery, where we spotlight *Portret van Jan Coraad Koopman*, a lithography created by Carel Frederik Curius Bentinck between1824 and 1849. This intimate portrait, measuring just 200 mm high by 148 mm wide, captures the likeness of its subject in a format ideal for personal collections or albums. Bentinck, a lesser Dutch artist of the period, employed lithography—a revolutionary printmaking technique invented in the late 18th century—to this work, allowing for detailed reproductions that democratized portraiture beyond oil paintings reserved for the elite. Lithography's magic lies in its greasy crayon drawings on smooth limestone, which repel water and attract ink for crisp, tonal prints. In the early 19th century, it flourished in the Netherlands for affordable portraits of notable figures, blending the precision of engraving with artistic fluidity. This medium's rise coincided with a growing middle class eager for visual mementos, making pieces like this both accessible art and historical snapshots. Though details on Jan Coenraad Koopman remain elusive, the portrait reflects the era's fascination with individual identity amid rapid social change in post-Napoleonic Europe. A charming example of Bentinck's craft, it invites you to ponder the stories etched in stone and ink. (198 words)