Portrait of a gentleman 

Nicolaes Maes painted this portrait of a gentleman using oil on canvas sometime in the mid-17th century. Oil paint is such a versatile medium, allowing for blending and layering. Here, the artist has really exploited that, particularly in the rendering of the sitter’s velvet robe. Notice the rich, dark brown tones, and the way the light catches the nap of the fabric. You can almost feel the luxuriousness of it. Consider the labor involved in producing such a textile, from the cultivation of the raw materials to the weaving and dyeing processes. This was a commodity available only to the wealthy. And let’s not forget the wig! The sitter’s magnificent cascade of curls was undoubtedly also expensive, and equally emblematic of status. Ultimately, Maes’s sensitivity to the material qualities of these status symbols underscores the social and economic realities of his time, reminding us that even in portraiture, the medium is the message.