Portret van Pieter van der Straten op 24-jarige leeftijd 1640 - 1665

This engraving of Pieter van der Straten at the tender age of 24, was created by Cornelis van Dalen I, a Dutch Golden Age printmaker. Van Dalen lived in a society deeply structured by class and social standing, where portraiture was the preserve of the elite, and was used to convey status and legacy. Look closely and you’ll see the formal attire, the meticulous detail of his hair, all serving to project an image of respectability and learning that someone in his position would have been keen to put forward. But, this is not only a projection of wealth, it is an affirmation of belonging, an attempt to situate himself within the cultural and political structures of the time. The Latin inscriptions that surround the portrait point to the aspirations of a young man eager to make his mark. It speaks to this era's preoccupation with legacy and reputation, the desire to be remembered, and the need to assert one’s place in the social hierarchy. Yet, there is also a sense of vulnerability, a young man aware of the weight of expectations and the fleeting nature of youth.