Author: MULTATULI. [PSEUD. OF DUARD DOUWES DEKKER]. Mitkiewicz, César. (Photogr.).
Title: [Lithographed portrait with original signed excerpt from The History of Woutertje Pieterse by Multatuli in ink]
Description: Brussels, n.d. [1864-1865]. Black and white lithography on Japanese paper (tipped in as published) by Simonau & Toovey after a photograph by César Mitkiewicz. Size: 45 x 40 cm. (inc. margins); 31,5 x 23 (exc. margins). Handwritten excerpt and signature by Multatuli in ink below the depiction. Matted and framed.* Extremely rare and iconic object of The Netherlands most prolific writer of the 19th century with handwritten paraphrase of his (second-most) famous work: De geschiedenis Woutertje Pieterse (prior published as Ideën I). Multatuli commissioned this particular portrait in order to gain money for the establishment of new daily newspaper. This particular portrait was his second attempt of exploiting his newly gained fame. In some of his letters he recalls that -at that moment- he was the most popular man of The Netherlands and that he received many requests from fans for photographs and portraits. His fans could prove him their admiration by buying their portrait either as a photograph or lithography. The business of his portraits failed and caused him many debts. Only a handfull of these particular portraits survive and all of them in public collections, this particular copy may have one of the finest and most attractive paraphrases of all known surving copies.

Keywords: Dutch literature Nederlandse letterkunde