Portrait of a Dutch Admiral of the Fleet 1570 - 1610

Pieter Pietersz. painted this portrait of a Dutch Admiral with oil on wood panel. The admiral’s pristine white ruff is a marvel. Creating such a complex shape from linen required bleaching, starching, and intricate pleating. His doublet looks as though it might have been woven in silk, its complex geometric patterning possibly achieved with a drawloom, a technology that expedited the production of elaborate textiles. The sword he holds, a symbol of his military authority, also demonstrates a high level of craft. Its construction involved metalworking, including forging, casting, and possibly etching or engraving for decoration. In this period, the Dutch Republic was a major naval power, and its economy depended on trade and maritime dominance. This portrait is therefore an artifact of global exchange, made possible by the labor of countless individuals, from flax growers to metalworkers, and of course the sailors who risked their lives at sea. Considering all of this making helps us to see beyond the admiral's individual likeness and towards the complex network of production that made his power possible.