Portrait of Hugo du Bois, Director of the Rotterdam Chamber of the Dutch East India Company, elected 1734 1734 - 1798

Dionys van Nijmegen painted this portrait of Hugo du Bois, director of the Dutch East India Company, using oil on canvas. The artist skillfully manipulates the oil paint to create a sense of depth and texture. Look closely at the rendering of du Bois's garments; the artist uses subtle gradations of color and tone to simulate the folds and drapes of the fabric. The glossy finish of the oil paint enhances the richness of the colors and adds a sense of luxury to the portrait. The choice of materials, such as the expensive pigments and fine linen canvas, underscores the sitter's social status and wealth. The portrait embodies the complex relationship between art, commerce, and colonialism, and the labor and resources extracted from distant lands. When we consider the materials and processes involved in its creation, this portrait invites us to reflect on the broader social and economic context in which it was made.