Jacob Rijswijk (1641-96) 1665 - 1675

This undated portrait of Jacob Rijswijk was painted by an anonymous artist, likely in the Netherlands. Rijswijk lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a time of immense economic prosperity for the Dutch Republic. This painting tells us about the social structures of the time; Rijswijk's somber attire, the white linen collar, and his family's coat of arms in the upper-left corner are all symbols of wealth and status. The fact that Rijswijk had his portrait painted suggests he was part of the Dutch elite, who had the means to commission art and assert their social position. We can also consider the institutional history of portraiture in the Netherlands during this period. Who were the artists? Who were their patrons? And how did these relationships shape the art being produced? Historians use sources such as archives, letters, and financial records to understand the relationship between art and society in the Dutch Golden Age. Art is never created in a vacuum, and its meaning is always contingent on the social and institutional context in which it is made.