Portrait of Frans Greenwood, Miniaturist, Glass Engraver and Poet in Dordrecht 1732 - 1771

Here we see a miniature portrait of Frans Greenwood by Aert Schouman, made with watercolor on vellum. The composition is strikingly simple: an oval form tightly frames Greenwood, drawing us into an intimate encounter. Notice how the dark, muted background throws his pale face into sharp relief. The light catches the soft waves of his wig, accentuating texture and form. The ochre jacket and reddish brown cloak offer a subtle color contrast, yet the palette remains restrained, almost monochromatic. Schouman’s technique, while traditional, subtly destabilizes the conventional portrait. The tight framing and intense gaze disrupt the expected formality, and the lack of ostentatious display forces a direct engagement with the sitter's persona. It is a study in subtle contrasts, where the artist engages with cultural codes of representation.