Portrait of Cornelis Cossiers - Jan Cossiers

A sensitive 1650 portrait study of the artist's son, Cornelis, rendered in black and red chalk on paper.

This drawing by the Flemish Baroque painter Jan Cossiers depicts his son, Cornelis. Executed in 1650, the work demonstrates the artist's facility with the technique of trois crayons, though here he primarily employs black and red chalk to define the subject's features. The medium allows for a soft, atmospheric quality, particularly in the rendering of the boy's hair and the subtle shading across the face.

Cossiers was a contemporary of Peter Paul Rubens and served as a dean of the Guild of Saint Luke in Antwerp. His work often reflects the influence of the Caravaggisti, particularly in his use of light and shadow, which is evident even in this intimate study. The portrait captures a moment of quiet observation. The boy's gaze is directed slightly away from the viewer, his expression neutral yet attentive. The artist uses the red chalk to suggest the warmth of the skin tones, while the black chalk provides the structure for the eyes, nose, and the loose, flowing locks of hair.

This drawing is part of a larger body of work where Cossiers documented his family members. Such studies were common among seventeenth-century artists, who often used their own children as models for larger compositions or as independent exercises in capturing character and likeness. The paper shows signs of age, with light foxing and a warm, aged tone that complements the chalk medium. The inscription in the upper right corner identifies the sitter and provides the date, confirming the work's provenance within the artist's personal collection. The composition is simple, focusing entirely on the head and shoulders, which allows the viewer to appreciate the economy of line and the sensitivity of the artist's hand.