Artwork
Portrait of a Painter
Portrait of a Painter is an oil painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter Cornelisz. van Egmondt. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created in 1655, this oil painting by Pieter Cornelisz.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows a painter absorbed in his work, seated at a table with brushes, palette and canvas, embodying the artistic process itself.
The painting shows a painter absorbed in his work, seated at a table with brushes, palette and canvas, embodying the artistic process itself. The figure holds a brush and palette, tools that symbolize creation and mastery within the portrait genre. Executed in oil on panel in 1655 in the Northern Low Countries, the work reflects contemporary Dutch portrait conventions while emphasizing the identity of the artist as both subject and maker. It is part of the Rijksmuseum collection and was previously owned by Franz Kleinberger.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on a wooden panel support, with dimensions of 30 cm in height and 26 cm in width. The technique relies on fluid, layered oil paint to build form and subtle transitions of light and shadow, consistent with mid-seventeenth-century Dutch portrait practice. Handling emphasizes delicate modeling of the face and hands, using fine brushwork to articulate facial features and costume details while preserving a restrained, naturalistic palette.
The composition centers on the sitter’s direct gaze and quiet dignity, framed against a subdued, neutral background that focuses attention on the figure. Stylistic qualities align with contemporary Dutch portraiture, favoring clarity, restrained elegance, and understated psychological presence over dramatic effect.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a Painter is an oil painting on panel created in 1655 in the Northern Low Countries by Pieter Cornelisz. van Egmondt. The work measures 30 cm in height and 26 cm in width and is currently held by the Rijksmuseum under inventory number SK-C-5. It entered the collection through ownership by Franz Kleinberger and has been part of the museum's display since its acquisition.
Overview
Created in 1655, this oil painting by Pieter Cornelisz. van Egmondt is a portrait of a painter that now belongs to the Rijksmuseum’s collection. The work presents a solitary figure seated in a subdued interior, illuminated by a soft, directional light that emphasizes the sitter’s features and the objects surrounding him.
Context
The work reflects the period’s interest in portraying artists at work, a genre that highlighted the intellectual status of painters. By situating the sitter amid books, sketches, and a study space, van Egmondt aligns the portrait with contemporary notions of the painter as a learned professional rather than a mere craftsman.
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Artist & collection
Artist
This Dutch artist painted portraits in the mid-1600s, a time when artists were busy capturing the faces of traders, scholars, and artists themselves.
