Jan Lievens 1630 - 1645

This is Lucas Emil Vorsterman’s engraving of Jan Lievens. It was produced in the Netherlands at some point in the 17th century. Lievens was a fellow artist of Vorsterman's, and the pair had grown up alongside Rembrandt in Leiden. This portrait is fascinating because it makes reference to the institutional history of the arts at the time, and what it meant to be an artist in Dutch society. Lievens is presented not only as a craftsman, but as a creative genius. He appears as a confident, well-dressed man, turning his gaze towards the viewer with an assuredness that would have been at odds with the time. By the 17th century, art was beginning to be seen as more than just a trade, and artists like Lievens occupied an important role in the shaping of Dutch culture. Looking at archives and other historical documents can help us to learn more about the changing status of the artist in this period.