Portrait of Hadriaan Beverland with a Prostitute c. 1676

Ary de Vois painted this work, "Portrait of Hadriaan Beverland with a Prostitute", with oil on wood panel. The composition, with its subdued palette, casts a reflective mood. A sense of intimacy is created through the close placement of the figures and objects. The texture of the fabric and hair are rendered with delicate brushwork, drawing attention to the tactile qualities of the painting. Note how the figures are arranged in relation to one another. Hadriaan Beverland and the prostitute are positioned on opposing sides of the table, creating a dynamic tension. De Vois destabilizes established meanings. Traditionally, portraiture served to elevate the sitter's status, but here, the inclusion of a prostitute and other signifiers, such as the pipe and wine, disrupts this expectation. The artist challenges the viewer to question established social values and moral codes. The details, such as the overturned glass, function as signs that invite interpretation and re-interpretation.