Allegory of the Sound 1622

Isaac Isaacsz made this large oil painting, ‘Allegory of the Sound’, sometime in the first half of the 17th century. Its smooth surface and layered application of pigments is typical of the period. Isaacsz would have grounded each panel with gesso, building up thin layers of paint, mixed from ground pigments and linseed oil. This was a laborious process, typically undertaken by workshop assistants. Isaacsz himself would have focused on the final details, like the rendering of flesh tones or the shimmer of the satins. The result is a highly polished surface, designed to evoke a sense of luxury and wealth. Given the number of ships depicted, it seems evident that the painting celebrates maritime trade. It implies a society on the move, reliant on specialist skilled labor. Ultimately, it is the artist's labor that makes this vision visible. By studying this painting, we can appreciate not only its aesthetic qualities, but also the social and economic conditions that enabled its creation.