Zelfportret van Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet

About this artwork

hoogte 212 mm (achthoekig) x breedte 165 mm

Art Historical Context

**Zelfportret van Jacob Ludovicus Cornet (c. 1835–1855) is a intimate self-portrait by the artist Jacobus Ludovic Cornet, capturing the creator's own likeness during the mid-19th century. Created on paper, this small-scale work measures 212 mm in height by 165 mm in width and features an unusual octagonalachthoekig), suggesting it may have been designed as a personal keepsake or decorative miniature, common in an era when artists often produced such pieces for private collections or albums. The broad date range reflects the Romantic period in Dutch art, when self-portraits served as both personal reflection and professional showcase, allowing artists like Cornet to demonstrate their skill in rendering human features with precision. The use of paper as a medium points to techniques such as drawing, watercolor, or etching—affordable and portable options that enabled detailed work in modest formats, contrasting with grand oil canvases. This octagonal self-portrait invites visitors to ponder Cornet's self-perception amid 19th-century artistic life in the Netherlands, where portraiture bridged personal identity and emerging photography. Its compact, jewel-like form highlights the artistry of everyday materials, offering a window into an artist's introspective world.

About the Artist

Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet · 1815–1882

Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet (1815–1882) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and museum curator whose career bridged artistic practice and cultural preservation. Born in Leiden in 1815, Cornet devoted his life to documenting Dutch history and culture through his paintings and drawings while simultaneously working to preserve the nation's artistic heritage as head of Leiden's Prentenkabinet (Prints Cabin...