Een kleine mens als officier met grote verenhoed en een speelkaart in de hand - Andries van Buysen (Sr.)

A satirical 1720 etching by Andries van Buysen (Sr.) depicting a small figure in military attire, framed by a detailed botanical border.

This etching by Andries van Buysen (Sr.), dated 1720, presents a curious figure dressed as a military officer. The subject is depicted with exaggerated proportions, wearing an oversized hat adorned with voluminous feathers. He holds a single playing card in one hand, while a sword rests at his side. The figure is framed by a highly decorative border composed of botanical elements, including leaves, flowers, and fruit, which contrast with the satirical nature of the central character.

Van Buysen was a Dutch engraver active in the early eighteenth century. His work often reflects the period's interest in caricature and social commentary. The inclusion of Dutch text beneath the figure provides context, typical of the moralising or humorous broadsides and book illustrations common in the Netherlands during this era. The precision of the line work, particularly in the rendering of the foliage and the textures of the officer's attire, demonstrates the technical skill required for copperplate engraving at the time.

The composition is structured as a page from a larger volume, with the central image contained within a rectangular cartouche. This format allows the artist to balance the narrative content of the figure with the ornamental frame. The work serves as an example of the intersection between fine art printmaking and the popular culture of the Dutch Golden Age's later years. It captures a specific aesthetic preference for detailed, allegorical, and often whimsical imagery that appealed to the literate public of the eighteenth century. The print remains a compelling study of historical costume and the tradition of satirical portraiture.