A Portrait of a Man 1650

Jan de Bray rendered this portrait of a man with graphite and colored chalk. It provides a glimpse into the visual culture of the Dutch Golden Age. Made in the Netherlands, we can tell a lot about the sitter's place in society from his dress. The elaborate ruff was a common fashion accessory among the Dutch elite, acting as a visual marker of status and wealth. It was a time of economic prosperity and social change, but also of strict social hierarchies. Portraits like this played a crucial role in constructing and reinforcing those hierarchies. By examining period clothing and customs using sources such as fashion plates, household inventories, and etiquette manuals we can understand how the Dutch republic was obsessed with outward appearances and social status. We might also see how the institutions of art helped to reproduce social norms through the production and display of art in the period.