Portret van Catharina van der Goes - Johan Willem van Vredenburch van Groeneveld

A detailed nineteenth-century Dutch lithograph depicting the family of Jonkheer Johan Willem van Vredenburch van Groeneveld, complete with heraldic crest and genealogical inscriptions.

This lithograph depicts the family of Jonkheer Johan Willem van Vredenburch van Groeneveld and his wife, Maria Adriana van der Pot. The composition follows the conventions of early nineteenth-century Dutch portraiture, arranging the family members in a structured, hierarchical group. The parents occupy the upper positions, while their children are clustered around them, creating a sense of domestic stability and social standing.

The print displays the technical precision characteristic of lithography from this period. The artist employs fine hatching and cross-hatching to define the textures of the clothing, the soft fabric of the mother's hat, and the facial features of the sitters. The lighting is directed to focus on the central figures, with the background remaining largely suggested through subtle shading. This technique allows the viewer to focus on the individual expressions and the collective unity of the family unit.

Below the main image, the print includes a detailed inscription. This text lists the names and birth dates of the parents and their six children: Jacob, Adriana Willemina, Jan Arinus, Agatha Maria, Johan Frederik, and Edouard Marc. The inclusion of the family coat of arms, surmounted by a coronet, reinforces the aristocratic status of the subjects. Such prints were often commissioned by families of the Dutch elite to document their lineage and status for private circulation among peers. The work provides a clear view into the social expectations and visual culture of the Dutch upper classes during the 1830s, capturing a moment of familial formality through the medium of print.