Portret van Hugo van der Helst en gezicht in een tuin 1660 - 1693

This is a drawing in graphite by Jan Verkolje I, portraying Hugo van der Helst in what appears to be a garden. Graphite, at the time, was a relatively new medium, not yet fully understood, but deeply connected to social issues. The material offered artists the ability to make detailed drawings that mimicked engravings, which were becoming increasingly popular at the time. Graphite pencils allowed for mass production of images, connecting art with emerging capitalism. Here, Verkolje has used graphite to capture the soft textures of fabric, the flowing hair, and the depth of the garden setting. Graphite’s capacity for shading and fine detail allowed Verkolje to give this portrait a sense of depth and realism, almost like a photograph before its time. Paying attention to the materials used, and the methods of making, can help us understand how art is a reflection of its time, intertwined with the socio-economic currents of its production.