Portret van Johannes Plevier op 57-jarige leeftijd

About this artwork

plaatrand: hoogte 307 mm x breedte 215 mm

Art Historical Context

**Portrait of Johannes Plevier at 57 Years Old** by Pieter Tanjé (1742–1761) is a fine example of 18th-century Dutch engraving, capturing the likeness of its subject with meticulous detail. Tanjé, a prominent engraver active in Leiden and The Hague, specialized in reproductive prints that brought portraits to a wider audience during the Dutch Enlightenment. This work depicts Johannes Plevier, a figure likely of local prominence, at the mature age of 57, rendered in a formal pose that reflects the era's emphasis on personal status and identity. Engraving, the medium here, involves incising designs into a metal plate with a burin, allowing for intricate lines and rich tonal contrasts when inked and printed. Measuring 307 mm high by 215 mm wide (plate border), this intimate scale made it ideal for collectors' cabinets or illustrated books, democratizing access to portraiture beyond oil paintings. Tanjé's technique showcases the precision of the Rococo-influenced Dutch school, blending realism with subtle elegance. This artwork highlights the cultural role of prints in preserving legacies in the prosperous Dutch Republic, where such engravings served as affordable memorials to merchants, scholars, and civic leaders like Plevier. A testament to technical mastery, it invites visitors to appreciate the enduring craft of printmaking.