Portrait of Jan Cossiers - Pieter de Jode II

A detailed seventeenth-century portrait engraving of the Flemish painter Jan Cossiers, executed by the printmaker Pieter de Jode II.

This portrait of the Flemish painter Jan Cossiers is an etching and engraving by Pieter de Jode II. The work belongs to the tradition of the Iconography series, a collection of portraits of contemporary artists, scholars, and statesmen. De Jode II was a skilled printmaker who frequently translated the paintings of his contemporaries into the medium of engraving.

The subject, Jan Cossiers (1600-1671), is depicted in a half-length pose, turned slightly towards the viewer. His expression is direct, with a subtle gaze that conveys a sense of professional confidence. He wears a simple, dark doublet with a plain white collar, typical of the mid-seventeenth-century Flemish attire. His hand is tucked into his garment, a gesture that adds a degree of formality to the composition.

The technical execution demonstrates the precision of the Flemish school. The background is composed of a fine, cross-hatched grid, which creates a neutral space that pushes the figure forward. The artist uses varying densities of line to model the facial features and the texture of the hair. The light source appears to come from the upper left, casting soft shadows across the face and highlighting the contours of the collar.

Below the portrait, the inscription provides biographical details about Cossiers, noting his birth in Antwerp in 1603 and his training under Cornelis de Vos. It also mentions his professional success, including commissions for the King of Spain and Archduke Leopold Wilhelm. This print serves as a historical record of the artist's appearance and his standing within the artistic community of the period. The clarity of the lines and the balanced composition reflect the high standards of seventeenth-century printmaking in Antwerp.