Portrait of Anna van den Corput (1599-1645). Wife of Jacob de Witt before 1645

This is an oil on panel portrait of Anna van den Corput, wife of Jacob de Witt, made by an anonymous artist, presumably in the Netherlands. It invites us to consider the social conventions and the economic structures in which art is made. Painted in the Dutch Golden Age, the portrait reflects the rising prominence of merchants. Anna’s dark dress and fine jewelry reflect the fashion and wealth of the time. The De Witt family was part of the powerful merchant class, and while this portrait is rather modest, it underscores the importance of family and social status. The relative simplicity, compared with say, portraits of royalty, might reflect a shift towards more restrained, Protestant values. As historians, we look to sources, such as inventories, letters and other archival documents to learn more about the sitter, the artist, and the social and institutional context in which this painting was made, helping us understand the complex interplay of individual expression and social forces.