Portret van Witte Cornelisz. de With - Theodor Matham

A detailed seventeenth-century engraving by Theodor Matham, capturing the likeness of the Dutch naval officer Witte Cornelisz. de With.

This engraving by Theodor Matham depicts the Dutch naval officer Witte Cornelisz. de With. Matham, a member of a prominent family of engravers, demonstrates technical precision in this portrait. The work employs a formal oval composition, a common convention for seventeenth-century portraiture, which focuses the viewer's attention on the subject's facial features and attire.

De With is shown in a three-quarter view, wearing a lace-trimmed collar and a heavy chain, which signifies his status and rank. The artist uses fine, controlled lines to model the contours of the face, the texture of the hair, and the metallic sheen of the chain. The background within the oval is rendered with dense, parallel hatching, creating a sense of depth and contrast that makes the figure appear to emerge from the page. The surrounding area remains largely unadorned, maintaining the focus on the subject.

As a Dutch Golden Age print, this work reflects the period's interest in individual identity and the documentation of public figures. The engraving process allows for a high degree of detail, capturing the nuances of the subject's expression and the specific fashion of the era. Matham's ability to translate the qualities of a painted portrait into the medium of engraving is evident in the subtle shading and the clarity of the lines. This print provides a clear visual record of a significant historical figure, rendered with the discipline and skill characteristic of the Dutch school of printmaking during the mid-seventeenth century. It is a study in both portraiture and the craft of the burin, offering a window into the visual culture of the Netherlands during this period.