Portret van Berend Roosen 1790

This 1790 engraving by Johann Christian Gottfried Fritzsch depicts Berend Roosen, a merchant from Hamburg, at his desk. The detailed portrait shows Roosen seated in a room with a window overlooking a bustling harbor scene with ships and a windmill. Roosen is portrayed in a formal pose, writing with a quill pen, and surrounded by the tools of his trade, including letters, a desk and a ledger. This work is an example of the Dutch tradition of portraiture which focused on capturing the sitter's personality and social standing through their surroundings and activities. The engraving is a testament to Fritzsch's skill and is now part of the Rijksmuseum collection in the Netherlands.