Portrait of a Collector, possibly Constantijn Sennepart c. 1665

Adriaen van Ostade painted this portrait with oil on canvas, capturing a collector amidst his prized possessions. Note the contrast between the dark, somber colors of the sitter's attire and the vibrant hues of the Persian rug draped over the table. Van Ostade meticulously rendered the rug's intricate patterns, showcasing a fascination with the textures and materials of luxury goods. The books, the rug, even the sitter's garments, were all made by someone, somewhere. Consider the labor involved in their creation: the weavers painstakingly knotting each strand of wool, the bookbinders carefully assembling pages, and the tailor who fashioned the collector's coat. Van Ostade, with his own labor-intensive craft, elevates these everyday objects to the realm of fine art. By emphasizing the materiality of these items, the artist prompts us to reflect on the complex web of production, consumption, and social status that underpinned Dutch society. It challenges our traditional art historical notions of the painting and invites us to appreciate the value of craft, not just fine art.