Portret van een 32-jarige man (Gysbert van Duvenvoorde?) 1580 - 1590

This engraving, made around 1590 by Hendrick Goltzius, presents a portrait of a 32-year-old man, possibly Gysbert van Duvenvoorde. The subject's identity isn't certain, but the portrait provides us with insight into the social aspirations of the Dutch elite during this era. Made during the rise of the Dutch Republic, this image exists in the context of a burgeoning merchant class, keen to display its status and success through portraiture. The man's elaborate ruff and patterned doublet speak volumes about his wealth and position in society. But this portrait is more than just a record of a man's appearance. It’s a carefully constructed representation of social identity. To fully understand this image, we might consult historical records of Dutch society, inventories of clothing and textiles, and studies of portraiture in the Netherlands at the time. In doing so, we begin to understand not just who this man might have been, but also the social and cultural values he wished to project.