Who painted Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man was painted by Aert Pietersz in 1635-01-01.

Where can I see Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Portrait of a Man?

Museum-quality prints of Portrait of a Man are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portrait of a Man

Aert Pietersz , 1635

Portrait of a Man is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Aert Pietersz. It dates from 1635 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Consequently, the work's significance lies in its straightforward depiction of the sitter rather than in a complex narrative or symbolic program.

The work is a portrait depicting a man, created in 1635 by Aert Pietersz. As a genre portrait, the painting focuses entirely on the individual male figure as its main subject. The source material provides no specific details regarding symbolic elements, iconographic attributes, or a deeper allegorical meaning beyond the representation of the man himself.

Consequently, the work's significance lies in its straightforward depiction of the sitter rather than in a complex narrative or symbolic program.

Technique & Style

Created in 1635 by Aert Pietersz, this portrait is executed in oil paint applied to a wooden panel support. The work measures 56 cm in height and 46 cm in width. As a formal portrait, the painting depicts a single male subject, adhering to the genre conventions of the period.

The medium and support combination of oil on panel was a standard technique for Dutch portraiture of the seventeenth century, allowing for the detailed rendering of the sitter's features within the compact dimensions.

History & Provenance

The oil painting on panel titled Portrait of a Man was created in 1635 by the artist Aert Pietersz. The work measures 56 cm in height and 46 cm in width. Historical records indicate that the painting was once owned by Jacob R. H. Neervoort van de Poll. It is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.

The painting is held by the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, where it is recorded as inventory number SK-C-1490.

It first entered the museum’s holdings through the 1920 bequest of Jacob R. H. Neervoort van de Poll, whose collection was transferred to the Rijksmuseum at that time.

The work has been exhibited once under Rijksmuseum auspices, shown in the 1934 exhibition ‘Rembrandt en zijn tijd’ (Rembrandt and his Time).

Overview

Aert Pietersz’s 1635 oil on canvas, titled Portrait of a Man, is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection. The work presents a single figure rendered in a restrained palette, set against a dark, undefined background that draws attention to the sitter’s features and attire.

Context

The portrait reflects the Dutch 17th‑century emphasis on individual representation and modest realism. During this period, artists often highlighted the sitter’s social status through clothing details such as the white collar, while maintaining a restrained compositional approach typical of the era’s portrait tradition.