Portrait of a Old Man

This portrait attributed to Hugo van der Goes depicts an old man and dates to around 1500. Van der Goes was one of the most powerful and innovative Netherlandish painters of the 15th century, known for his intense psychological penetration. If the attribution holds, the portrait represents his late period before his mental breakdown at Rode Klooster. The oil medium allowed for rich tonal transitions and glazed layers of color that created luminous depth impossible with the older tempera technique.

Oil on panel with intense psychological characterization and the microscopically detailed surface rendering characteristic of the Netherlandish tradition. The aged skin and individual features are observed with unflinching naturalism.