Portret van Jan Jansz, alias Jan de Dood 1638 - 1658

This is Cornelis Visscher’s engraving of Jan Jansz, or Jan de Dood, whose portrait is part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum. Visscher, working in the Dutch Golden Age, captures Jansz in a manner that reflects the era’s fascination with character studies, and perhaps offers a glimpse into the social tapestry of 17th-century Netherlands. Notice Jan’s confident gaze and somewhat rakish attire which challenges the typical somberness often found in portraits of the time. Is this an assertion of identity or a theatrical performance for the viewer? The moniker 'de Dood' — 'the Dead' — might suggest a life lived on the fringes, a brush with mortality, or perhaps a role he played in the public imagination. This image invites us to consider the interplay between appearance and identity and the stories we construct around individuals, especially those who exist outside the mainstream. What do you make of Jan Jansz?