Portret van Robert van Voerst Possibly 1635 - 1636

Gerard ter Borch the Younger made this portrait of Robert van Voerst using graphite. Although undated, the drawing was likely made during the Dutch Golden Age, when the Netherlands saw unprecedented growth in trade, science, and the arts, especially painting. Artists like Ter Borch captured the burgeoning merchant class and the institutions that supported them. This image communicates status and intellect. The sitter’s clothing is simple but elegant, signifying wealth and taste. His hair is carefully styled and falls elegantly to his shoulders. In his hand, he holds what looks like a drawing or manuscript, suggestive of artistic creativity or intellectual pursuits. These details show how portraits of this time were less about capturing a likeness than projecting an ideal of social standing. Art historians can access a wide range of period sources to better understand how class and commerce were expressed through art. What does it mean to be a collector? What sort of social and economic activities make art collecting possible? These are just some of the questions we can ask ourselves to better understand the public role of art.