Portrait of a Young Girl 1633 - 1635

Pieter Dubordieu painted this portrait of a young girl with oil on canvas, though the specific date remains unknown. The solemnity in this child’s eyes speaks volumes about the conventions of portraiture in the Dutch Golden Age. The image creates meaning through visual codes. In the 17th century Netherlands, portraits served as markers of status, and this young girl is adorned with symbols of wealth and refinement: the lace collar, the gold necklace, and the ornate ribbon. The historical associations are also telling. The Dutch Republic, newly independent, saw a rise in a wealthy merchant class who commissioned portraits to assert their place in the social order. The girl’s reserved demeanor reflects the social expectations placed on young women of her time. To fully understand this work, we can consult sources like domestic advice manuals to illuminate these expectations, or study period inventories to learn more about the material culture of the Dutch Golden Age.