Portrait of a Man 1690 - 1750

Arnold Boonen's "Portrait of a Man", was painted in the late 17th or early 18th century and now hangs in the Rijksmuseum. It is a study in contrasts, both in color and texture. The dark, almost somber background and coat, create a stark contrast with the bright, almost luminous face and hands of the subject. The textures also play a key role. Note the soft, almost fluffy quality of the wig, juxtaposed with the smooth, almost porcelain-like skin. These juxtapositions are not accidental. They speak to the philosophical and social divides of the time. The contrast between the dark and the light, the rough and the smooth, creates a sense of tension. Boonen's focus on these contrasts challenges our perception, hinting at the complexities and contradictions inherent in the human condition, inviting us to look beyond the surface and to question what we see.