Cornelis de Bruyn (1652-1727), Draftsman and Traveller 1695 - 1700

Gottfried Kneller painted this oil on canvas portrait of Cornelis de Bruyn, the celebrated draftsman and traveller. This portrait captures de Bruyn at a time when the Western world was expanding its reach through exploration and documentation. Kneller, himself an immigrant to England from Germany, was keenly aware of the dynamics of identity and representation. In painting de Bruyn, he captures the sitter’s self-assuredness, reflecting the cultural confidence that accompanied exploration. De Bruyn traveled extensively, documenting his journeys through detailed drawings. His work provided Europeans with visual access to distant lands and cultures. Yet, this act of documentation was not neutral. It was shaped by the power dynamics of colonialism and often exoticized or misrepresented non-Western cultures. The portrait then, is a complex negotiation of identity, travel, and representation, asking us to consider who has the authority to represent whom, and to what ends.