Portret met orde van Gulden Vlies c. 1700 - 1790

This portrait of a man wearing the Order of the Golden Fleece was made anonymously, likely during the 17th century, from oil paint on a wooden panel. The panel itself is unassuming; we can see the woodgrain running horizontally across it. Then, a circular section has been carefully gouged out to receive the painted portrait. Note the contrast between the crisp depiction of the gentleman, and the rather rough-and-ready carpentry that supports it. Someone has invested significant effort to depict the sitter’s finery. This contrast speaks volumes. In the 17th century, as now, the trappings of wealth were carefully cultivated, with the aid of skilled laborers in many sectors, from textile production to the making of pigments. The support, by comparison, is quite basic. So, while the artist has left us no clear message, the materials themselves tell a story about the world in which this image was made. It invites us to consider all the labor, commerce, and social power implied by this small but telling object.