Artwork
Portrait of Willem
Portrait of Willem is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Jacob Maris. It dates from 1888 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Jacob Maris painted Portrait of Willem in 1888, employing oil on canvas. The work is part of the Rijksmuseum’s collection and presents a young boy in a formal pose, rendered with the subdued lighting and tonal harmony typical of the Dutch Hague School.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter appears to be a toddler, his neutral gaze directed toward the viewer. He wears a white ruffled collar, a yellow‑brown jacket, and a dark cap topped with a small feather, suggesting a ceremonial or family portrait rather than a casual depiction.
Technique & Style
Maris applies a restrained palette of browns and earth tones, using layered brushstrokes that give the fabric and background a tactile quality. The handling of light and shadow recalls the chiaroscuro of earlier Dutch masters, while the overall effect remains more subdued than the dramatic contrasts of the Golden Age.
History & Provenance
Created during Maris’s mature period, the portrait reflects his occasional forays into portraiture alongside his better‑known landscape work. The painting entered the Rijksmuseum’s holdings in the early 20th century, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s representation of 19th‑century Dutch art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jacob Henricus Maris (August 25, 1837 – August 7, 1899) was a Dutch painter, who with his brothers Willem and Matthijs belonged to what has come to be known as the Hague School of painters.
