Jacob Willemsz van Veen (1456–1535), the Artist's Father 1532

In 1532, Maarten van Heemskerck created this oil on panel painting of his father, Jacob Willemsz van Veen. Look closely at the way that the material of oil paint has been handled. Heemskerck has used thin layers of pigment, carefully blended, to create an almost photographic likeness. Consider the time and labor involved in achieving this level of detail, from the rendering of the skin to the fur hat. This wasn’t just about technical skill, but also about social status. Only those with money could afford such meticulously crafted portraits, which served as symbols of wealth and prestige. What's interesting here is that portraiture, once the exclusive domain of royalty and the upper classes, was gradually becoming accessible to the rising merchant class in the Netherlands. The painting reflects the complex relationship between artistic skill, economic power, and social identity in the 16th century. It reminds us that art is not just about aesthetics, but also about the social and economic context in which it is produced and consumed.