Zelfportret van Pieter Schenk 1680 - 1713

Pieter Schenk created this self-portrait using engraving techniques in Amsterdam sometime between 1660 and 1711. Schenk presents himself as a cultivated man, in a silk robe and lace cuffs. In the Dutch Republic of this period, the art market had expanded beyond aristocratic patronage to include a wealthy merchant class. Artists such as Schenk were able to support themselves by producing images for sale to this new audience. Amsterdam was a key centre for printmaking, with workshops that could produce and distribute images on a large scale. Note the text below the image, "Petrus Schenk, apud Amstelodamenses, sculptor." Schenk is identifying himself as a sculptor to the people of Amsterdam. Understanding this image means delving into the history of printmaking, the growth of the art market, and the social aspirations of artists in the Dutch Republic. By consulting archival records, auction catalogues, and other historical documents, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the social conditions that made this self-portrait possible.