Portrait of the Painter Barend Graat - Matthijs Pool

A detailed engraving by Matthijs Pool featuring a portrait of the painter Barend Graat, complete with symbolic memento mori elements.

This engraving by Matthijs Pool depicts the Dutch painter Barend Graat (1628-1709). The composition follows the conventions of seventeenth-century portraiture, presenting the subject within a trompe l'oeil stone oval frame. Graat is shown in three-quarter profile, wearing a periwig and a loose-fitting garment, which was a common stylistic choice for artists of the period to suggest a professional yet informal air.

Behind the figure, an hourglass rests on a stone plinth. This inclusion serves as a memento mori, a traditional symbol reminding the viewer of the passage of time and the inevitability of death. The inscription on the frame, 'DAAR IS NOCH WAT IN', translates from Dutch as 'There is still something in it', which adds a layer of philosophical commentary to the presence of the hourglass.

Pool demonstrates technical precision in his use of line and cross-hatching to define the textures of the subject's clothing, the stone frame, and the soft curls of the wig. The lighting is directed to draw attention to the face of the painter, while the background remains in shadow, creating a sense of depth within the oval enclosure. The print is a fine example of the reproductive engraving techniques employed in the Netherlands during the early eighteenth century, where the focus remained on clarity, anatomical accuracy, and the symbolic representation of the sitter's profession and character. The work provides a glimpse into the self-presentation of artists during this era, balancing the gravity of their craft with the intellectual traditions of the time.