Portrait of the Family of Dirck Bas Jacobsz, Burgomaster of Amsterdam
1634
unspecified
From the collection of Rijksmuseum
1634
unspecified
From the collection of Rijksmuseum
This painting shows a family of seven people standing and sitting indoors, dressed in dark, fancy 17th-century clothes. The men wear wide-brimmed hats, ruffled collars, and boots, while the women have high lace collars and long skirts. A small child kneels with a dog on a leash, and the floor has black-and-white checkered tiles. The background is plain, with a dark wall and a window. Notice how the artist used shadows to make the faces and clothes look three-dimensional. The light comes from the left, highlighting the ruffs and fabrics while keeping the background dark. Look up chiaroscuro to see how this lighting trick works in other paintings.
