Portret van Anton van Opstal 1615 - 1691

This engraving portrays Anton van Opstal and was made in the 17th century, likely in the Netherlands. Van Opstal, identified here as a "pictor iconum," or painter of portraits, signals his own artistic status by pointing, as if to say “this is me; this is my work.” Such engravings served a crucial function in the art world of the time. With no photography, how could paintings become known? Prints like this one acted as advertisements. Disseminated widely, they shaped the reputations of artists. The engraving's existence speaks to the growing institutionalization of art. No longer simply a craft, painting was becoming a profession with its own networks of promotion. A key figure in this shift was the artist who made this print, who we know only as Anonymous. The institution of art history has not preserved their name. To fully understand this image, one might research the Dutch print market, the Royal Academy’s influence, or the place of portraiture in constructing social identity. Art always exists within these concrete conditions.