Jan Six 1654

Rembrandt van Rijn painted this oil on canvas portrait of Jan Six, a wealthy art collector, sometime in the mid-17th century. Oil paint, ground pigment suspended in drying oil, was a well established medium by this time. Rembrandt masterfully uses the material to evoke both the opulence and interiority of his sitter. Look at how he builds up the surface with layers of paint, creating a palpable sense of texture and depth. From the sheen of Six's satin sleeves to the rich folds of his cloak, the artist's ability to capture the essence of fabric is remarkable. The portrait represents Six's status and wealth. The act of painting such a portrait also speaks to a society that produced and consumed luxury goods and art. It is important to see Rembrandt as part of a nexus of mercantile exchange, where craftsmanship and artistry were tied to social identity and economic power. This painting exemplifies how the materials and processes of art are intertwined with wider social and economic realities.