Portrait of Gijsbert van der Hoeven 1657

Jan Thopas made this portrait of Gijsbert van der Hoeven using pen in grey-brown and brush in grey around 1657. This portrait speaks to the unique social dynamics of the Dutch Golden Age. The Dutch Republic was one of the most urbanized and commercialized societies in Europe. It was a culture in which civic identity was heightened, and the production of art was organized around guilds. Notice the symbols in the corners of the image: a coat of arms and a laurel wreath. What do they tell us about the sitter’s status and aspirations? Van der Hoeven’s dark clothing is also telling, setting him apart from the ostentatious displays of wealth we see in other countries at the time. To understand art like this, we look at the social history of Dutch painting, the organization of its guilds, and the relationship of artists to their patrons. This helps us to understand not just the image, but the society that created it.