Portret van Jacob Schütz 1610 - 1654

Sebastian Furck created this portrait of Jacob Schütz using etching, a printmaking technique, sometime in the first half of the 17th century. This image of a man in elite dress and surrounded by luxury objects is typical of the period. Jacob Schütz wears an elaborate lace collar, an ornate chain, and a patterned doublet, all signifiers of his status within Dutch society. The very fact of his commissioning a portrait speaks to his wealth and his desire to participate in a culture of display and self-promotion. The Dutch Republic in the 17th century was unique in Europe, without an aristocratic court and instead dominated by a wealthy merchant class. The popularity of portraiture reflects the values of this society, where civic virtue and financial success were celebrated. Art historians rely on sources like period inventories, costume guides, and social histories to understand the world that produced images like this one. The details we see here open a window onto the economic structures and social hierarchies of the time.