Portrait of a Man 1660 - 1680

Ary de Vois created this “Portrait of a Man” using oil paints on canvas. Looking closely, we can see the artist expertly renders the subject's garments with subtle brushwork, capturing the soft texture of the fine fabric. The layers of paint create depth and volume, bringing the man’s likeness to life. The choice of oil paint itself is significant. In the 17th century, the widespread use of oil paint allowed artists to create rich, luminous effects and intricate detail and this contributed to the development of a robust art market. However, this was only possible thanks to global trade networks, which extracted pigments and materials from across the world, often through exploitative labor practices. The very act of painting, therefore, was deeply entangled with social and economic structures, and this portrait offers a glimpse into the complex relationship between artistic creation and the world around it. Paying attention to materials and making helps us understand the significance of this artwork.