Portrait of Jacob Mossel, Governor-General of the Dutch East India Company 1750 - 1799

This portrait of Jacob Mossel, Governor-General of the Dutch East India Company, was painted anonymously on canvas. The artist has built up the image with many thin layers of oil paint, a costly material at the time, creating translucent shadows and highlights. The Governor-General's clothes are a sombre, muted navy, reflecting the fashion of the time, and drawing attention to his face. The canvas and paint would have been prepared by an assistant, and the portrait itself likely painted from life in a few sittings. This image gives us a glimpse into the economics of the Dutch East India company, which extracted labor and resources from across the globe. The detailed representation of the Governor-General suggests the immense importance that this kind of role played in colonial administration and in the circulation of goods and ideas. Looking at the materials and processes of this portrait, we can better understand its historical and social significance.