Adriaan Valckenier (1737-1741) 1737

Theodorus Justinus Rheen painted this oil on canvas portrait of Adriaan Valckenier between 1737 and 1741. Rheen’s application of oil paint shows mastery, skillfully capturing the textures of fabrics and the subtle nuances of skin tones. The use of oil paint itself reflects a complex web of trade and industry of the 18th century. Pigments were sourced globally, and the canvas was meticulously woven, stretched, and prepared. Rheen likely employed apprentices in his studio, each contributing specialized labor to the painting's production. The very act of painting serves as a visual record of both the artist's labor and Valckenier’s status. The portrait commemorates a man who was a high-ranking official in the Dutch East India Company, itself a vast enterprise dependent on global trade, resource extraction, and a complex social hierarchy. In these ways, the painting connects the intimacy of portraiture to the dynamics of global capitalism.