Medaille met het portret van C.W. de Keen - Abraham Jacobsz. Hulk

A detailed 1787 etching by Abraham Jacobsz. Hulk, depicting a commemorative medal portrait of the Dutch major C.W. de Keen.

This etching by Abraham Jacobsz. Hulk depicts a commemorative medal featuring the portrait of C.W. de Keen, a major within the Dutch militia. Created in 1787, the work reflects the period of political unrest in the Netherlands known as the Patriot era. The circular composition mimics the physical form of a metallic coin or medallion, a common format for honouring military figures and local officials during the late eighteenth century.

The subject is rendered in profile, wearing a bicorne hat adorned with a feather, which identifies his rank and status. The artist employs precise, controlled lines to define the facial features and the texture of the uniform. The surrounding text, integrated into the circular border, provides identification and context for the sitter. The print demonstrates the technical skill required for small-scale engraving, where clarity of detail is necessary within a confined space.

Abraham Jacobsz. Hulk was a Dutch artist whose work often documented the social and political figures of his time. This specific piece is part of a broader tradition of portrait prints that circulated among the public to disseminate the likenesses of contemporary leaders. The minimalist presentation on the paper highlights the graphic quality of the etching, focusing the viewer's attention on the portrait itself. The work remains a clear example of the intersection between historical documentation and printmaking in the late eighteenth-century Netherlands.