Portret van een jongeman, in driekwart naar rechts before 1699

This red chalk drawing, housed at the Rijksmuseum, presents a portrait of an unknown young man, created by an anonymous artist. The soft lines and warm tones lend a casual intimacy to the sitter, whose direct gaze and slight smile suggest a degree of self-assurance. Without a known date, pinpointing its exact socio-cultural context proves tricky, but costume details such as the cap can offer useful research avenues. Archives of fashion history, combined with close comparison to dated portraits, could help situate it within a specific time and place in Europe. Given the institutional setting of the Rijksmuseum, we might also explore how the very act of collecting and displaying such an image shapes our understanding of its cultural value. Is it meant to exemplify Dutch portraiture, or does it serve some other purpose within the museum's narrative? By examining its provenance and exhibition history, we can better appreciate the layered meanings embedded within this seemingly simple portrait.