Artwork
Johannes Been
Johannes Been is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jonas Suyderhoff. It dates from 1661 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Johannes Been is an early‑modern print executed in copper engraving by the German artist Jonas Suyderhoff in 1661. The work presents a portrait‑type composition rendered in monochrome, employing fine line work to model form and convey a sense of three‑dimensional space.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays an elderly gentleman with a long beard, dressed in dark robes and seated in a chair. He holds spectacles and an open book, suggesting scholarly or clerical activity. Behind him a modest crucifix and a coat of arms with a shield appear, while a stack of volumes rests on a nearby table, reinforcing themes of learning and piety.
Technique & Style
Suyderhoff’s engraving demonstrates meticulous hatching and cross‑hatching, creating subtle tonal gradations that give depth to the figure and surroundings. The crisp line work and careful modulation of light and shadow illustrate the artist’s command of the intaglio process, typical of mid‑seventeenth‑century Northern European printmaking.
History & Provenance
Created in 1661, the print was likely intended for a limited circulation among patrons or institutions connected to the subject. No specific ownership record is noted, but the presence of a coat of arms suggests a commission for a family or academic setting.
Context
The portrait aligns with the period’s emphasis on learned identity, where scholars and clerics were often depicted with books, spectacles, and religious symbols. Engravings served as a means to disseminate such images beyond painted portraits, reflecting the growing importance of print culture in the 17th century.
Artist & collection
