Portrait of Cornelis van Aerssen (1545-1627)
1599
oil
From the collection of Mauritshuis
1599
oil
From the collection of Mauritshuis
This painting shows a man with a serious expression, looking slightly to the right. He has a receding hairline and a well-groomed beard and mustache. He wears a dark shirt with a ruffled white collar. The man's face is rendered in detail, with subtle shading that suggests depth and dimension. His eyes are cast downward, giving the impression of introspection. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of volume and texture, drawing the viewer's eye to the subject's face. To learn more about this technique, explore the work of artists who mastered chiaroscuro.
