Abraham Casteleyn and his Wife, Margarieta van Bancken 1663

Jan de Bray painted this impressive portrait of Abraham Casteleyn and his Wife, Margarieta van Bancken, during the Dutch Golden Age. Casteleyn was the owner of a printing workshop and publisher of the newspaper Haarlems Dagblad. Painted during a period of economic prosperity and cultural flourishing in the Netherlands, this artwork reflects the values and aspirations of the Dutch bourgeoisie. Casteleyn's confident gaze, and his wife's composed posture, position them as intellectuals and members of the upper class. The setting is pastoral, but they are posed among books, a globe and a bust, alluding to their status as learned individuals, and underscoring the importance of education and intellectual pursuits during this era. While the portrait celebrates the couple's success, it also subtly reinforces traditional gender roles, with Casteleyn depicted as the intellectual and active partner, and Margarieta as the supportive and demure spouse. The artwork thus captures a moment in which personal identity is expressed through societal position.