Portret van Jan Baertsen 1587 - 1591

Hendrick Goltzius created this portrait of Jan Baertsen using graphite. Goltzius, born in 1558, navigated the complexities of the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by burgeoning trade, religious conflict, and artistic innovation. The sitter, Jan Baertsen, is captured in profile, his gaze directed away, perhaps lost in thought or contemplation of the political landscape. His aged face and beard speak to a life lived, embodying the period's values of experience and wisdom. This intimate portrayal reflects the cultural shifts of the time, with its move towards valuing the individual, yet its lack of elaborate embellishment speaks to the artist's Protestant views. The drawing encapsulates a moment of introspection, inviting viewers to consider the sitter's life within the broader context of his society. It prompts reflection on how individual stories intersect with history, and the ways in which identity is shaped by both personal experience and collective memory.