Portrait of a Man 1744

This portrait of a man was painted by Jan Maurits Quinkhard, likely in the first half of the 1700s. It's oil on canvas, a traditional fine art medium, meticulously applied to create realistic textures and effects. Look closely, and you’ll see how the material properties of oil paint are exploited: smooth, glossy surfaces suggesting expensive fabrics, and subtle gradations creating depth. This was achieved through layering, blending, and glazing – labor-intensive processes demanding skill and time. The portrait shows a man of status, reflected not only in his dress but in the very making of the painting, which would have been costly. Oil painting had become the standard for representing wealth. Materials and making are key here. The portrait testifies to the man’s position in society, but also to the economy of artistic production and the value placed on skilled handwork. The act of painting, then, goes hand-in-hand with social status.