Self Portrait, circa 1660 1655 - 1665

Jacob van Loo’s Self-Portrait from around 1660 is an oil painting on canvas. The smooth canvas serves as a traditional surface, a foundation upon which layers of meaning are built with ground pigments. Notice how the inherent qualities of oil paint – its slow drying time and blendability – are exploited to create subtle gradations of light and shadow, giving a lifelike quality to van Loo’s features. The application of paint involves both the skilled manipulation of brushes and a deep understanding of color theory, a technique honed through years of practice, but there is nothing inherently ‘craft-based’ about it. This type of portraiture depended on the economic realities of the time. The cost of paints, brushes, and canvas would have been significant, making this level of representation accessible only to a select few, reflecting the social and economic structures of Dutch society during the Golden Age. Ultimately, recognizing the material basis and social context of this portrait enriches our understanding, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and the wider world.