Man met een boekje 1658 - 1677

Wallerant Vaillant created this mezzotint, "Man with a Booklet," sometime in the mid-17th century. The image portrays an elder, a book in hand, set against a neutral backdrop. Vaillant was part of a generation of artists navigating the complex dynamics between artistic tradition and the evolving social landscape of the Dutch Golden Age. Printmaking flourished in the Netherlands at this time, driven by a growing merchant class eager for art. This growth in the art market also reflected the growing power of institutions, like the Guild of Saint Luke, that regulated artistic production. Mezzotint, with its tonal range, offered new possibilities in printmaking and new ways to disseminate images widely, often with a didactic message. To fully appreciate this work, we need to consider how the imagery reinforces or challenges the social norms of its time. Research into the prints and printmakers of the Dutch Golden Age can reveal much about the interplay of art, commerce, and society.