Portret van een man met hoed 1579 - 1665

This is an engraving of a man with a hat, made by an anonymous artist. It’s a tiny work, only 44 by 32 mm, and it resides here in the Rijksmuseum. The subject’s clothing and confident gaze reflect a certain social status in the Netherlands, although it's hard to say precisely what. It was a society structured around civic institutions, trade, and religious belief. Without knowing who commissioned the work or where it might have been displayed, it's difficult to say what role it played within the culture of its time. Was it part of a family collection? Was it displayed in a public office? Was it meant to signal certain political or religious affiliations? These are all questions that remain open to investigation. To better understand this image, we need to examine the social and institutional context in which it was produced. The museum itself is one such institution, and its collection practices play an active role in shaping how we understand the art of the past.