Portret van Cornelis Joosten Glimmer - Crispijn van de Passe (II)

A detailed seventeenth-century engraving by Crispijn van de Passe (II) depicting Cornelis Joosten Glimmer, featuring symbolic memento mori elements.

This engraving by Crispijn van de Passe (II) depicts Cornelis Joosten Glimmer, a figure of the Dutch Golden Age. The portrait captures the subject in a formal, contemplative pose, characteristic of seventeenth-century Dutch portraiture. Glimmer is shown at a table, his hand resting near a small book, while an hourglass sits in the background. This inclusion of the hourglass functions as a memento mori, a common motif in the period to remind the viewer of the passage of time and the inevitability of death.

Van de Passe employs precise, controlled lines to define the textures of Glimmer's clothing, particularly the ruff collar and the fabric of his doublet. The shading is achieved through a systematic application of cross-hatching, which creates a sense of volume and depth within the figure. The artist focuses on the facial features, using fine lines to suggest the subject's age and expression. The composition is balanced and restrained, reflecting the sober aesthetic often associated with the Dutch merchant class during this era.

Crispijn van de Passe (II) belonged to a family of printmakers who were active in the Netherlands and beyond. His work demonstrates the technical proficiency required for high-quality engraving, a medium that allowed for the wide distribution of portraits and historical scenes. The inscription at the base provides specific biographical details, identifying the sitter and his age at the time of the print's production. This work offers a clear example of the intersection between personal portraiture and the symbolic visual language prevalent in the mid-seventeenth century.