Portret van Gerbrand van Leeuwen

About this artwork

height 251 mm x width 184 mm

Art Historical Context

This delicate portrait on paper captures Gerbrand van Leeuwen through the skilled hand of Dutch artist Pieter van der Plas II. Created sometime between 1687 and 1708, the work measures just 251 by 184 millimeters, suggesting it may have served as a personal study, preparatory drawing, or intimate keepsake rather than a large-scale commission. Van der Plas, working in the late Baroque period, was part of a rich Dutch tradition of portraiture that emphasized individual character and social standing. Paper as a medium offered artists greater spontaneity and affordability compared to canvas or panel, allowing for fine detail and subtle tonal work that could be achieved with graphite, chalk, or ink. Such works often reveal the private side of artistic practice, preserving the likeness of sitters like van Leeuwen for family records or personal collections. Though little is known about the subject today, the portrait stands as a quiet testament to the enduring human desire to remember and be remembered through art.