Zelfportret van Pieter Louw
1743 - 1760
Medium
paper
Dimensions
139; 103
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Purchased with the support of the F.G. Waller-Fonds
Art Historical Context
Behold the intimate *Zelfportret van Louw* (Self-Portrait of Pieter Lou), a delicate work on paper measuring just 139 mm high by 103 mm wide. Created between 1743 and 1760 by the Dutch artist Pieter Louw this small-scale self-portrait captures a personal moment of introspection during the 18th century, a time when the Netherlands flourished in portraiture amid the Enlightenment's emphasis on individuality and self-expression. Rendered on paper—a medium ideal sketches, studies, and private reflections—this piece highlights Louw's skill in rendering human features with precision and subtlety. Self-portraits like this were a longstanding tradition in Dutch art, allowing artists to demonstrate technical prowess without a patron's commission. Its modest size suggests it may have been a personal keepsake or preparatory study, offering a rare glimpse into the artist's own visage and inner world. Acquired with support from the F.G. Waller-Fonds, this artwork underscores the enduring value placed on 18th-century Dutch draughtsmanship. Visitors, pause to appreciate how such a tiny treasure preserves Louw's legacy, inviting us to connect across centuries with the quiet confidence of a young artist's gaze.
About the Artist
Pieter Louw · 1725–1800
Pieter Louw (1725–1800) was a Dutch painter-engraver who achieved recognition primarily for his accomplished mezzotint reproductions of old master paintings. Born in October 1725 in Amsterdam and dying in March 1800 in the same city, Louw's career spanned the full breadth of the 18th century, a period when reproductive printmaking played a crucial cultural role in disseminating knowledge of painti...