Portrait of the Children of Barend Goudriaan 1776

Cornelis van Cuylenburgh the second painted this portrait of the Goudriaan children using oil on canvas. The artist carefully builds up the image through layers of paint, each stroke adding depth and texture. Look closely, and you'll notice the subtle details in the children's clothing, the feathered quill, and the bird held aloft. The canvas support, though hidden, plays a crucial role, providing a surface for the pigments to adhere to. The artist's choice of oil paint allows for smooth gradations of tone, enhancing the realism of the portrait. This was a period that valued the skilled hand, but also the depiction of social status. The painting’s very existence speaks to the family's wealth, an advertisement of the elder Goudriaan’s affluence and influence, obtained through mercantile means. The materiality of the painting connects directly to the socio-economic context of its creation. The work asks us to consider the intricate relationships between artistic skill, material value, and social status in the 18th century.