Portret van een meisje

About this artwork

plaatrand: hoogte 293 mm x breedte 201 mm

Art Historical Context

Created in 1751 by Dutch artist Pieter van Bleeck, *Portret van een meisje* is a finely detailed engraving measuring roughly 29 by 20 centimeters. The work exemplifies the refined printmaking tradition of the eighteenth century, when engravings served as accessible alternatives to paintings and allowed portraits to reach wider audiences across Europe. Van Bleeck, active in both the Netherlands and England, brought a sensitive touch to the medium, using precise lines to capture the delicate features and expression of his young subject. Engraving was particularly valued during this period for its ability to reproduce subtle tonal gradations and intricate details, qualities evident in the careful rendering of the girl’s attire and hairstyle. Though little is known about the sitter herself, the portrait reflects the era’s growing interest in depicting children with natural charm rather than stiff formality. Such prints often found their way into private collections or illustrated books, helping to shape contemporary ideas of childhood and genteel femininity. Today the engraving offers modern viewers a glimpse into mid-eighteenth-century Dutch artistic practice and the enduring appeal of portraiture as both personal memento and cultural record.

About the Artist

Pieter van Bleeck · 1700–1764

Probably born in the Hague. He was a painter of portraits and is particularly remembered for his portraits of actors in their roles. He was also an engraver and made engravings after works by Murillo, van Dyck, Rembrandt, Lely, and others. Comment on works: Portraits; theatrical scenes