Portrait of Jan Boelensz - Cornelis Visscher

A detailed 1655 engraving by Cornelis Visscher depicting the cleric Jan Boelensz, rendered with the technical precision of the Dutch Golden Age.

This engraving by Cornelis Visscher depicts Jan Boelensz, a member of the Order of Friars Minor, at the age of fifty-six. Executed in 1655, the work demonstrates the technical precision characteristic of Visscher, a master of the Dutch Golden Age. The subject is presented within an oval frame, his hand resting against his chest in a gesture of piety. To his side, a small crucifix serves as a reminder of his religious vocation. The composition is structured with a formal border containing Latin inscriptions, which provide biographical details regarding the sitter's age and status. Below the portrait, a coat of arms and a Dutch verse further contextualise the figure, linking his life to the Franciscan rule.

Visscher utilised a sophisticated system of hatching and cross-hatching to model the facial features and the texture of the subject's beard. The light source is handled with care, creating a sense of volume and presence. The engraving captures the gravity of the sitter, reflecting the sober aesthetic common in seventeenth-century Dutch portraiture. The inclusion of the text at the base, printed by Jacob Jansen Straetman, suggests this print functioned as a commemorative or devotional image. The clarity of the lines and the balance between the portrait and the surrounding decorative elements demonstrate Visscher's ability to integrate text and image into a cohesive whole. This print remains a fine example of the portrait engraving tradition in the Netherlands, where such works were often collected for their documentary value and artistic merit.