Portrait of a Man (once thought to be Benjamin Colman) c. 17th century

Curator: This portrait, attributed to Jan van der Spriett, presents a man once thought to be Benjamin Colman. I see a delicate hand emerging from deep shadow. Editor: It strikes me as a study in contrasts, the stark difference between light and shadow and how that informs the viewer. Curator: Absolutely. The materiality here is fascinating, too. Consider the craftsmanship—how the artist used oils to capture the subtle textures. One must remember that capturing such a likeness was a material act, deeply invested in the subject's social standing. Editor: And in the labor and expense of the pigments! Ultramarine, for example, was literally worth its weight in gold. I wonder, what were the power dynamics at play when this painting was made? Curator: It’s easy to get lost in the shadow, to forget the materials, but when we bring that to the foreground, we gain a deeper understanding. Editor: Yes, the shadows become richer, more meaningful.