Zelfportret van de schilder Abraham van der Eyk 1698 - 1776

Johannes de Groot the second created this print of Abraham van der Eyk, likely in the Netherlands during the 1700s, using burin and etching techniques. The image captures not just a likeness, but the sitter's professional identity, as indicated by the inscription: 'Abraham Vander Eyk, Pictor'. In the Dutch Republic during this period, the art world was heavily shaped by guilds and academies. Consider how this portrait might have functioned within that context. Was it a means for Van der Eyk to assert his status, or perhaps a commission intended to solidify De Groot’s reputation within artistic circles? The very act of creating and circulating such a print suggests a desire to participate in, and shape, the institutional structures that defined the art world of the time. Investigating guild records, biographical accounts, and period publications can provide valuable insight into the relationship between artist, subject, and the institutions that framed their careers.