Artwork
Jacob Christiaan Koningsberger (1867-1951). Chairman of the People's Council (1918-19)
Jacob Christiaan Koningsberger (1867-1951). Chairman of the People's Council (1918-19) is an oil painting by Jan Willem Sluiter. It dates from 1925 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Jacob Christiaan Koningsberger, specifically identified as the Chairman of the People's Council during the period of 1918–19.
The painting depicts Jacob Christiaan Koningsberger, specifically identified as the Chairman of the People's Council during the period of 1918–19. As a portrait, the work focuses entirely on this single historical figure, presenting him as the main subject without additional narrative scenes or allegorical figures. The iconography is straightforward, centering on the representation of Koningsberger in his official capacity.
The meaning of the work lies in its function as a formal visual record of the individual who held this significant political leadership role in the early 20th century.
Technique & Style
The portrait is painted in oil on canvas in a straightforward realist manner. The handling emphasizes precise modeling of facial features and controlled brushwork, consistent with academic portrait conventions of the 1920s. The composition is centered on the sitter’s head and shoulders, with subdued, muted tones and a neutral background that directs attention to the face.
The figure’s expression is restrained, aligning with the dignified public image associated with the sitter’s role as chairman of the People’s Council.
The canvas measures 99.5 cm in height by 81.5 cm in width, and the oil medium is applied in smooth, blended layers rather than impasto, producing a polished surface typical of formal portraiture from this period.
History & Provenance
Jacob Christiaan Koningsberger, a prominent Dutch politician, was painted in 1925 by Jan Willem Sluiter. The work is an oil on canvas portrait currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains on display.
The painting was created shortly after Koningsberger completed his term as Chairman of the People's Council (1918-1919), reflecting his political stature at the time. Its dimensions measure 99.5 cm in height by 81.5 cm in width, consistent with the recorded size of the artwork.
The portrait of Jacob Christiaan Koningsberger painted by Jan Willem Sluiter in 1925 is part of the Rijksmuseum's collection in Amsterdam. It was created as an oil on canvas work measuring 99.5 cm by 81.5 cm.
The painting entered the museum's holdings through its acquisition program and has been displayed in exhibitions focusing on Dutch political figures and early 20th-century portraiture at the institution.
Context
Jacob Christiaan Koningsberger (1867-1951) served as Chairman of the People's Council from 1918 to 1919, a role reflected in his portrayal by Jan Willem Sluiter in 1925. The painting, housed in the Rijksmuseum collection, depicts him as a central political figure of the Dutch socialist movement during a period of significant upheaval following World War I. Its creation during the early years of the Dutch Republic's social democratic consolidation situates it within the broader context of interwar European portraiture that engaged with revolutionary leadership. The work's formal qualities and subject matter contributed to Sluiter's recognition as a significant portraitist within the Dutch modernist tradition, though critical reception at the time focused on its political resonance rather than purely artistic merit.
Overview
Jan Willem Sluiter’s 1925 oil portrait presents Jacob Christiaan Koningsberger, a Dutch political figure who chaired the People’s Council during 1918‑19. Rendered in a restrained palette, the work focuses on the sitter’s upper body, emphasizing his dignified bearing against a dark, unadorned backdrop. The painting is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and exemplifies Sluiter’s skill in formal portraiture.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jan Willem "Willy" Sluiter (24 May 1873 in Amersfoort – 22 May 1949 in The Hague) was a Dutch painter.
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