Joannes Malderus, Bishop of Antwerp 

Anthony van Dyck painted this portrait of Joannes Malderus, Bishop of Antwerp, using oil paint on canvas. The very handling of the paint is worth noting. See how van Dyck has built up the form of Malderus’s garments with repeated, glazed layers. This almost sculptural approach creates depth and texture in the fabric. Then there's the quick, deft way the artist has captured Malderus’s face, indicative of the speed required of a busy and fashionable portraitist. And consider the economic context. Van Dyck was in high demand. Commissioned portraits like these required workshops with assistants. This mode of production, akin to a factory, highlights the intersection of art and commerce in the 17th century. It also implies a distance between the artist’s hand and the final product, complicating our understanding of authorship. It serves as a reminder that even seemingly straightforward portraits are the product of complex social and economic relationships.