Nowadays, we capture moments in photos, but in the 17th century people had their portrait painted by an artist. Rather than a quick headshot, you ‘sat’ for a painter who spent days, even weeks, on your portrait! In the 17th century, wealthy citizens commissioned portraits of themselves, their business associates and loved ones, that showed them exactly as they wanted to be seen and remembered. Prominent Dutch figures, such as the stadtholder, also had portraits made of themselves, which they distributed in large editions, so their face would be seen everywhere.
Portrait painting in the 17th century
In a painted portrait, nothing is coincidental. The way the sitters pose, their clothes and details – everything was chosen with care. They often tell something about the person’s status and profession. For example, a book says that you are widely read, and a scale symbolises prosperity or justice. The composition is often harmonious and balanced, because that’s how people wanted to see themselves. A portrait in the 17th century was successful if it captured a good likeness, showed the subject in a flattering light, and the fabrics, faces, and skin looked realistic.
‘Full-length’ or just the face
The way in which a person was portrayed often said something about their wealth. Someone who was painted life-size and ‘full-length’ – from top to toe – owned a lot of money, because such a large painting was expensive. Smaller portraits, focusing only on the face, were cheaper and more common among less wealthy people. In short, the larger and more detailed the portrait, the more a person could pay.
Rembrandt and Frans Hals
In the early 17th century, many portraits were a little stiff, but painters like Rembrandt and Frans Hals changed that. Rembrandt used light and shadow to bring faces to life, while Hals depicted his sitters looking relaxed, sometimes even smiling. Hals’ virtuosic style later inspired the French Impressionists, who made many copies of his paintings. At the Mauritshuis, paintings by both masters are on display, including Hals’ Laughing Boy and Portrait of an Old Man by Rembrandt.
