Portret van een jonge man op 24-jarige leeftijd 1583

This is Hendrick Goltzius’s “Portret van een jonge man op 24-jarige leeftijd”, an engraving made around 1583. It depicts a young man, encircled by an inscription that celebrates virtue and honesty. Goltzius lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of immense cultural and economic growth for the Netherlands. This portrait is a product of the rising merchant class, which was eager to display its wealth and status through art. The subject's age is emphasized, yet there’s a striking contrast between the wisdom the text ascribes to him, and his youthful features. The man's confident gaze suggests an awareness of his social position, while the delicate lines of the engraving convey an intimate sense of character. The clothing denotes class and power. The ruff around his neck encloses him, and perhaps alludes to the constraints and expectations of his social standing. Ultimately, this artwork encapsulates the complex interplay between individual identity, societal expectations, and the desire for personal recognition during a transformative period in European history.