Portret van Adriaan van Westcapelle 1584

This is Hendrick Goltzius’s “Portret van Adriaan van Westcapelle,” an engraving likely made in the late 16th century in the Netherlands. The image presents a man of some status, judging by his elaborate ruff and fashionable hat, encircled by an inscription naming him and stating his age. Prints like this one played a crucial role in shaping social status during this period. Goltzius was a leading figure in Haarlem, a city experiencing rapid economic growth through trade and textile production. Here we see the values of a newly powerful merchant class. The print flattens the sitter into a two-dimensional likeness, an abstract image of status that could be easily reproduced and disseminated. To understand this work better, we might research the social hierarchy of Haarlem at the time, and the role of portraiture in constructing identity. The print is a fascinating historical document, reflecting the social and economic conditions of its time.