Who painted Portret van een man?

Portret van een man was painted by Pieter Serwouters in 1650-01-01.

Where can I see Portret van een man?

Portret van een man is held by Rijksmuseum.

What movement is Portret van een man?

Portret van een man is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Can I buy a print of Portret van een man?

Museum-quality prints of Portret van een man are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Portret van een man

Pieter Serwouters , 1650

Portret van een man is a graphite painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Pieter Serwouters. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Created around the middle of the 17th century, this modestly sized, oval portrait presents a seated gentleman rendered in pencil.

About this work

If you're interested in learning more about the techniques used in this drawing, you might want to look into cross-hatching and stippling.

This is a small, oval portrait of a man in a ruffled collar and ornate clothing. He has a mustache and is looking directly at the viewer. The drawing is done in pencil and has a light, sketchy quality to it.

The man's clothing and hairstyle suggest that he is from the 17th century. The level of detail in the drawing is impressive, with intricate folds in the fabric and delicate lines in the face.

If you're interested in learning more about the techniques used in this drawing, you might want to look into cross-hatching and stippling.

Subject & Meaning

The painting Portret van een man (1650) by Pieter Serwouters is a portrait depicting an unidentified male subject. As a genre work, it adheres to the conventions of 17th-century portraiture, focusing on the likeness and presence of the individual without overt allegorical or mythological elements. The medium, pencil on parchment, suggests an intimate, possibly preparatory or private study rather than a formal commissioned portrait.

The iconography is restrained, emphasizing the subject’s facial features and expression. No explicit symbols or attributes are evident in the available sources, leaving the work’s meaning tied primarily to the representation of the sitter’s identity or status. The minimalism of the composition reflects the artist’s Flemish portrait tradition, where the focus remains on the individual rather than contextual embellishment.

Technique & Style

The work is executed in pencil on a parchment support, measuring 7.5 cm high and 6 cm wide. Dated to 1650, it presents a half‑length portrait of an unidentified man, rendered with fine, controlled strokes that define the facial features and attire. As a drawing by the Flemish artist Pieter Serwouters, the piece reflects the modest, graphic approach characteristic of mid‑seventeenth‑century Netherlandish portraiture. No information on its current condition is provided in the sources.

History & Provenance

The work is dated 1650 and is attributed to the Flemish painter Pieter Serwouters (1586–1657).

It was later in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, where it is recorded as a portrait drawing in pencil on parchment measuring 7.5 cm in height and 6 cm in width.