Zelfportret 1649 - 1665

Carel van Savoyen created this self-portrait using etching, a printmaking technique, sometime in the mid-17th century. Van Savoyen was a Flemish artist active during a period when printmaking was becoming a more established part of the art market. The inscription at the bottom tells us that he was “greatly esteemed” for his skill in painting small figures. This detail points to a growing interest in the cult of the artist and the commodification of artistic skill. The portrait itself presents Van Savoyen as a refined and respectable figure, with careful attention paid to his clothing and hairstyle. The way he holds his hand to his chest might suggest modesty, but also hints at the self-promotion that was becoming necessary for artists in this period. To understand this image better, one might research the economics of the art world in the Dutch Golden Age and look at other self-portraits of the time. Art historical interpretation relies on understanding art as something rooted in its specific social and institutional context.