Kaffehandler Christen Ravn, en ungdomsven af Juel 1770

Jens Juel painted this portrait of Kaffehandler Christen Ravn using oil on canvas. The paint has been skillfully applied in thin layers to render the textures and details of Ravn’s garments. Consider how the material itself, oil paint, plays a crucial role in conveying the sitter’s social status. Oil paint, traditionally associated with fine art, elevates the merchant to the realm of high culture. Notice the reflective quality of the paint, particularly in the subtle highlights of Ravn's jacket. Juel’s technique also points to the cultural significance of portraiture during this period, which served as a marker of social standing and economic success. Ravn’s profession as a coffee merchant speaks to the burgeoning culture of global trade and consumption, which brought new goods like coffee into the European market, transforming social practices and class structures. Ultimately, this painting invites us to consider the intricate relationship between materials, making, and the social context in which art is produced and consumed. It challenges us to look beyond the surface and to appreciate how the seemingly simple act of applying paint to canvas can reveal deeper insights into the cultural values and economic forces that shaped the world.