Portretten van Jan Steen en Frans van Mieris 1708 - 1780

Jacob Houbraken created this print, "Portraits of Jan Steen and Frans van Mieris," sometime between 1698 and 1780, during a period marked by significant shifts in Dutch art and society. The print depicts two celebrated Dutch Golden Age painters, Jan Steen and Frans van Mieris, capturing their likenesses in a style that reflects the era's evolving artistic sensibilities. Houbraken’s choice to portray Steen and van Mieris, both known for their genre scenes and portraiture, speaks to the cultural values of the time, where artists were increasingly seen as individuals of distinction. Steen, positioned above van Mieris, perhaps alludes to his greater fame, yet both are presented as masters of their craft. The inclusion of the monkey references the contemporary idea of the artist mimicking nature. Consider how Houbraken, working in the later period, looked back at the Golden Age, celebrating its masters while subtly reshaping their images for a new audience. This print is not just a record of likenesses; it's a reflection on artistic legacy and identity.