Portrait of a Man 1652

Ferdinand Bol painted this Portrait of a Man using oil on canvas, a common material of the Dutch Golden Age. Here, the fluid properties of oil paint allow for an exploration of light and texture, key features of this portrait. Look at the way the black fabric of the sitter’s cloak absorbs and reflects the light. Note also the contrast between the glossy surface of the man’s skin and the matte finish of his wide-brimmed hat. It is important to remember that these effects are the result of countless hours of work, both by Bol and those who prepared his materials. The production of oil paint involved a complex network of labor, from the grinding of pigments to the weaving of the canvas. By attending to the materiality of this painting, we recognize its connection to broader social issues of labor and consumption. In the end, this approach reminds us that there is so much more to art than just the image it presents.