Mattheus de Haan (1725-1729) 1726

This painting, titled "Mattheus de Haan," was created anonymously between 1725 and 1729. Oil on canvas, it presents a somber, formal portrait dominated by dark tones, punctuated by the stark white of the sitter's cravat and hair. Notice how the artist uses the cylindrical form of the object held by Mattheus de Haan to bisect the composition, drawing our eye from the subject's face to his gesturing hand. The artist juxtaposes textures, contrasting the smoothness of the face with the rougher rendering of the coat and background. This play with texture adds depth, emphasizing the materiality of the paint itself. The composition, while conventional for its time, hints at evolving notions of representation. The gaze is direct, yet there's a distance, a separation that suggests the complexities beneath the surface. The painting functions as a sign, encoding the sitter’s status and the values of his era, yet it also destabilizes fixed meanings through subtle formal disruptions. It remains a fascinating artifact for ongoing interpretation.