Artwork
An antique artist
An antique artist is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Johannes van Swinderen. It dates from 1630 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a depiction of the creator, the subject serves as a direct representation of the artist's identity and presence during the Dutch Golden Age.
The work is a portrait that depicts the artist Johannes van Swinderen himself, functioning as a self-portrait created in 1630. As a depiction of the creator, the subject serves as a direct representation of the artist's identity and presence during the Dutch Golden Age. The painting captures the figure of van Swinderen, emphasizing the individual's role within the artistic tradition of the period.
Its inclusion in the exhibition "Rembrandt's Orient. West Meets East in Dutch Art of the 17th Century" further contextualizes the work within broader cultural exchanges of the era.
Technique & Style
Oil paint was applied to canvas to create this portrait of Johannes van Swinderen in 1630. The work measures 103.3 cm in height and 89.3 cm in width, reflecting the formal dimensions typical of Dutch portraiture from the period. Its execution and composition align with the stylistic conventions of 17th-century Dutch painting, particularly evident in the handling of light and surface detail characteristic of the Rijksmuseum's collection.
The painting has been exhibited in Rembrandt’s Orient. West Meets East in Dutch Art of the 17th Century, underscoring its significance within the broader context of Dutch artistic exchange.
History & Provenance
The portrait by Johannes van Swinderen is dated to 1630, aligning with the artist’s early period.
It entered the collection of the Rijksmuseum, where it remains held today. The work has been identified as a self-portrait, depicting the artist himself. In 2008, the painting was included in the exhibition "Rembrandt’s Orient: West Meets East in Dutch Art of the 17th Century," held at the Rijksmuseum, confirming its institutional recognition during that period.
The painting is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1630, the work measures 103.3 cm in height and 89.3 cm in width. It has been featured in the exhibition titled "Rembrandt's Orient: West Meets East in Dutch Art of the 17th Century."
Context
Johannes van Swinderen was a 17th-century Dutch painter active in the portrait genre, documented in Rijksmuseum collections and referenced in exhibitions such as Rembrandt’s Orient. West Meets East in Dutch Art of the 17th Century.
Scholarly attention to his work highlights the self-portrait tradition within Dutch portraiture, situating his output within broader artistic exchanges of the period.
The painting’s provenance at the Rijksmuseum and inclusion in thematic exhibitions underscore its significance within Dutch Golden Age portraiture and the representation of artists in early modern visual culture.
Overview
Created in 1630, this oil painting by Johannes van Swinderen is a portrait that resides in the Rijksmuseum. The work presents a solitary figure seated at a table, rendered in a dark interior that emphasizes the subject’s elaborate costume and the objects surrounding him.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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