A Painter in His Studio 

This is Gerrit Dou’s “A Painter in His Studio,” a glimpse into the world of a 17th-century Dutch artist. Dou places himself in a long robe holding his palette. To the right, his current painting sits on an easel and shows three men in conversation. The studio is full of objects that tell us about the painter: armor, books, and a violin are all signs of a learned and skilled individual. In the Dutch Republic at this time, painting was seen as a trade. Dou presents himself not just as a craftsman but as an intellectual. By including symbols of learning, he elevates his status and challenges notions of class and labor. The artist seems aware of the need to assert his position in the world. He is not simply making pictures, but also constructing his identity as an artist. There is a quiet ambition here.