Seated Man Wearing a Flat Cap 1635 - 1640

Editor: This is Rembrandt van Rijn's "Seated Man Wearing a Flat Cap," created around 1635 to 1640, using ink on paper. I find the subject's casual pose really interesting. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a snapshot of Dutch society, ripe with class and gender dynamics. It isn't just a portrait, it’s a staging of masculinity. Think about the way the man is seated, the shadow behind him and his nonchalant gesture; do you see how this could suggest a certain privilege afforded to men of his status during the Dutch Golden Age? Editor: I see what you mean about the staging. His stance does seem a little performative. But do we know anything about who this man might have been? Curator: Not specifically. But think about the context of Rembrandt’s time. The Dutch Golden Age was marked by burgeoning trade and colonial exploits. Considering that, how might this seemingly simple portrait actually reflect or perhaps even critique the socio-political underpinnings of wealth and power? What stories could we read in this portrayal? Editor: That's interesting! I hadn't thought about it in terms of colonial power. Curator: Right. The ink drawing feels immediate, almost like a quick study, but the way Rembrandt has rendered it leaves us questioning this man’s relationship to his surroundings and, by extension, to the larger world. What do you take away from this conversation? Editor: I definitely have a different view. I initially saw it as just an informal portrait, but I now understand how the setting can reveal so much more about social identity and the era itself. Curator: Exactly, by viewing art through a critical lens, and considering all different intersections, we’re more able to unpack history.