Zelfportret 1735

Cornelis Pronk made this self-portrait with pen in gray ink and brush in gray wash. This image tells us a lot about the Dutch Golden Age and the role of the artist in society. Pronk presents himself as a solid, respectable member of the middle class, wearing a simple coat and hat. His gaze is direct, confident. In the 18th century Netherlands, artists were becoming more independent from the patronage of the church or aristocracy. The increasing wealth of the Dutch merchant class created a new market for art, where artists like Pronk could sell their work directly to the public or through dealers. Note the lack of overt references to his profession such as tools, brushes or artworks in the background. What can we learn from his other works? Who were his clients and what did they want? What was the status of the artist in Dutch society at this time? These are just some of the questions we might ask as social historians looking at the world of art.