Portret van Jacob van Dijk, in ovaal, naar rechts 1787 - 1791

Aert Schouman created this watercolor portrait of Jacob van Dijk in the 18th-century Netherlands. The oval frame and the sitter's attire give the portrait an air of formality. However, Schouman’s loose brushwork and the intimate scale suggest a more informal, personal context. Jacob van Dijk, identified by inscription, was not a member of the aristocracy or high society, and was more than likely part of the emerging Dutch middle class. The Dutch Republic in the 1700s was a society defined by its mercantile activities. The production of art became increasingly democratized during this period as the patronage system began to erode and a free market for art gained prominence. The Rijksmuseum, where this artwork is housed, has played a pivotal role in preserving and interpreting this cultural heritage. Historians delve into archival records, genealogical research, and period literature to reconstruct the life of someone like Jacob van Dijk and to understand the cultural values that shaped both the artist and his subject.