Dutch school; second third of the 17th century.

Dutch school; second third of the seventeenth century.
"Child portrait".
Oil on panel.
Measurements: 29 x 23 cm; 44 x 38 cm (frame).
In this work the author captures a child portrait in which the protagonist has been captured with great dignity and composure, a sign of his social position. Although his physical features correspond to a young child. The figure is presented in the form of a bust portrait turned in three quarters on a neutral background that monumentalizes his figure, and in which there is no anecdotal detail that might distract the viewer from the portrayed character. The delicacy of her skin, warmly illuminated, and the richness of her clothing stand out despite the fact that not much of it can be appreciated.
Child portraits in the Baroque period acquired great relevance as a reflection of social status, dynastic heritage and the conception of childhood at the time. Unlike previous periods, where children were usually depicted as small adults, in the Baroque their individuality and naturalness was emphasized, showing a greater expressiveness and sensitivity in their faces. These portraits were not only commissioned by nobility and royalty to legitimize their lineage, but also captured the innocence and fragility of childhood, sometimes with subtle allusions to the transience of life. Artists such as Velázquez, Van Dyck and Rubens developed a pictorial language that combined the pomp of costume with a more spontaneous representation, achieving works of great emotional and technical impact.