Carel Bouman (1673-1747). Tabaksfactor te Amsterdam en dichter

About this artwork

height 63.5 cm x width 52 cm

Art Historical Context

In the heart of 18th-century Amsterdam,elis Troost captures the likeness of Carel Bouman (1673-1747), a prosperous tobacco merchant—known as a *tabaksfactor*— amateur poet, in this 1739 portrait on paper. Measuring 63.5 cm high by 52 cm wide, the work now resides in the Rijks, offering a window into the vibrant merchant culture of the Dutch Golden Age's twilight. Bouman embodies the era's cultured bourgeoisie, blending commerce with literary pursuits amid Amsterdam's bustling trade hubs and coffeehouses, where tobacco symbolized exotic luxury and social exchange. Troost (1696-1750), a multifaceted artist, actor, and draftsman, excelled in intimate portraits that infused Rococo elegance with theatrical wit, reflecting his own stage background. Rendered on paper—a medium Troost favored for its immediacy and detail in chalk or pastel—this piece highlights his skill in conveying personality through expressive features and subtle pose. It underscores the cultural interplay of trade, poetry, and portraiture in the Netherlands, celebrating individuals like Bouman who enriched civic life beyond ledgers. A charming glimpse of Enlightenment-era Amsterdam!

About the Artist

Cornelis Troost · 1696–1750

Comment on works: Portraits; Genre