Portret van Cornelis van den Brande op 32-jarige leeftijd 1598

Bartholomeus Willemsz. Dolendo created this print of Cornelis van den Brande in 1598. It captures a man at the intersection of personal identity and social expectation. The elaborate ruff collar and finely detailed doublet speak to van den Brande’s status in Dutch society, marking him as a man of means and position during the Dutch Golden Age. This was a time of immense economic growth and cultural flourishing, but also stark social stratification. The portrait presents an image of masculine authority, reinforced by the subject’s direct gaze and poised demeanor. Yet, portraits are never simply neutral records. This image, in its careful detail and artistic execution, tells a story of ambition and the desire for legacy. It's a moment frozen in time, inviting us to consider the complex interplay between identity, representation, and the ever-present gaze of history.