Portret kapitein Jan Bart, staand met pijp c. 1670 - 1724

This is Jacob Gole’s etching of Captain Jan Bart, made around the turn of the 18th century. The composition divides into two distinct zones: on the left, a still life arrangement sits on a highly ornamented table, and on the right, the full-length figure of Captain Bart, poised with a smoking pipe. Gole’s use of chiaroscuro—the interplay of light and shadow—creates a visually rich surface. The gradations from dark to light across the captain’s coat and the reflective surfaces of the glassware, illustrate not just form but also texture. The overall effect suggests a narrative tension between the static elegance of wealth and the implied action of a man of war. Consider the semiotics at play here. The pipe, the fine clothing, and the table laden with valuables are all signs of status and power. The print doesn’t merely depict a man; it constructs an image of authority.