Portret van Jan Steen

About this artwork

Portret van de schilder Jan Steen. Steen draagt een hoed en heeft een pijp in de hand. Buste naar rechts.

Art Historical Context

Welcome to our virtual gallery, where we encounter *Portret van Jan Steen a delicate etching by Jacobus Ludovicusnet from 1854. This intimate bust portrait captures the renowned Dutch Golden Age painter Jan (1626–1679), turned slightly to the right, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and casually holding a pipe. Measuring just 137 mm wide by 205 mm high, the small scale invites close viewing, much like a treasured sketch in an artist's studio. Etching, Cornet's chosen medium, involves incising lines into a metal plate with acid, allowing for fine details and multiple impressions—perfect for disseminating images of cultural icons in the 19th century. Here, the technique renders Steen's thoughtful expression and textured attire with precision, evoking the lively, everyday genre scenes for which Steen was famous, like boisterous taverns and family merrymaking. Created over 175 years after Steen's death, this work reflects a Victorian-era revival of interest in the Dutch masters. Cornet, a skilled Dutch printmaker, pays homage to Steen’s enduring legacy as a master of human folly and joy, making this portrait a bridge between artistic eras and a charming nod to the pipe-smoking artist's persona.

About the Artist

Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet · 1815–1882

Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet (1815–1882) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and museum curator whose career bridged artistic practice and cultural preservation. Born in Leiden in 1815, Cornet devoted his life to documenting Dutch history and culture through his paintings and drawings while simultaneously working to preserve the nation's artistic heritage as head of Leiden's Prentenkabinet (Prints Cabin...