Portret van Jacob van Heemskerck after 1607

Christoffel van Sichem I created this print of Jacob van Heemskerck, a naval hero, sometime around the turn of the 17th century. The print was made by incising lines into a block of wood, applying ink, and transferring the image onto paper. The choice of wood as a medium is significant here. Unlike the more refined lines of an engraving, woodcuts have a bold directness. The sharp lines create a strong likeness and convey the sitter’s strength. The details of the armor, the map of a naval battle, and even the lettering are all rendered through the labor-intensive craft of carving. The medium is well-suited to depicting a man of action. Van Heemskerck made his name disrupting international trade and was later killed in battle. The artist, through the medium of woodcut, immortalizes Van Heemskerck’s exploits. In understanding the process, materiality, and the way it reflects the sitter's place in society, we can move beyond traditional art history and appreciate the deeper cultural meanings embedded in this portrait.