{"product_id":"self-portrait-with-a-friend-willem-bartel-van-der-kooi","title":"Self-Portrait with a Friend - Willem Bartel van der Kooi","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined Neoclassical portrait by Dutch painter Willem Bartel van der Kooi, depicting the artist with a companion in a studio setting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis portrait by the Frisian painter Willem Bartel van der Kooi depicts the artist alongside a companion. Van der Kooi, a student of Wybrand Hendriks, was known for his technical precision and his ability to capture the likeness of his subjects within the conventions of late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century Dutch portraiture. The composition follows the tradition of the artist at work, with Van der Kooi holding a palette and brushes, gesturing towards his canvas or perhaps engaging in a silent dialogue with his sitter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lighting is focused, drawing attention to the faces of the two men while the background remains obscured in shadow. This chiaroscuro effect creates a sense of intimacy and seriousness. The artist wears a coat in an earthy olive tone, while his companion is dressed in a more formal dark jacket with a white cravat. The background features subtle, low-relief sculptural elements, including a figure playing a trumpet, which adds a classical touch to the setting. The brushwork is controlled and smooth, characteristic of the Neoclassical influence that permeated Dutch art during this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVan der Kooi spent time in Düsseldorf and Paris, where he studied the works of the Old Masters. This exposure influenced his approach to portraiture, leading him to adopt a refined style that prioritised clarity and psychological presence. The painting captures a moment of professional camaraderie, reflecting the social circles of artists and intellectuals in the Netherlands at the turn of the century. The work remains a fine example of the artist's ability to balance formal portraiture with a sense of personal narrative, providing a glimpse into the life of a painter during a period of transition in European art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/neo-classical-vases-in-a-landscape-jean-charles-delafosse\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eNeo-classical Vases in a Landscape - Jean Charles Delafosse — Jean Charles Delafosse\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/virginia-dalrymple-george-frederic-watts-1\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eVirginia Dalrymple - George Frederic Watts — George Frederic Watts\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Willem Bartel van der Kooi","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58678124282191,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58678125560143,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58678125592911,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58678125625679,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58678125658447,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58678125691215,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58678125723983,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58678125756751,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58678125789519,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58678125822287,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58678125855055,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58678125887823,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Self-Portrait-with-a-Friend_Poster_CompositorV1_1788563382783.jpg?v=1788564107","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/de\/products\/self-portrait-with-a-friend-willem-bartel-van-der-kooi","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}