Art historical research can bring surprises, even when it comes to canvases that have been in museum collections for decades. Recently, the Amsterdam Museum announced an incredible discovery: on a 17th-century Dutch portrait, dated approximately 1674, what is believed to be the oldest depiction of a tattoo in Dutch painting has been found. This detail, overlooked for 351 years, challenges established notions about tattoo culture in puritanical Protestant Holland.
A Forgotten Detail: How Wessel Smits’ Merchant Tattoo Emerged After Three Centuries
The monumental canvas, “The Chief Commissioners of the Walloons,” attributed to Wallerant Vaillant, depicts a group of influential figures who oversaw port operations in the IJ Bay in Amsterdam. The painting, measuring 3 by 2 meters, has been in the museum’s collection since the 19th century. However, only recently, after a thorough examination, did a small but extremely significant detail on the arm of one of the depicted officials catch the experts’ attention.
Judith van Gent from the Amsterdam Museum managed to identify the person with the tattoo. It turned out to be Wessel Smits, a wealthy and respected merchant.
Studying the archives allowed for the establishment of key dates: Smits married in 1644 at the age of 25, meaning he was born around 1618 or 1619. This period coincides with the time when a very bright comet was clearly visible in the sky. The image of this comet, as a symbol or sign of fate, adorns his wrist.
The discovery occurred after the painting returned from an exhibition at the H’Art Museum. Experts are confident in the authenticity of the depiction, as the tattoo is part of the original paint layer from 1674, not a later addition.
Van Gent explained why such an important detail was missed for centuries:
- In the 19th century, when the painting was also exhibited, there was no interest in such bodily markers.
- The canvas was in storage for a long time or hung too high.
- “It’s not visible in photographs; you have to get very close to notice this nuance,” the researcher emphasized.
Tattoos in the Age of Reformation: An Expert Analysis of the Cultural Context
The discovery of a tattoo on the arm of a wealthy 17th-century Dutch merchant is not just an art historical find; it’s a challenge to the historical narrative. At that time, especially in Protestant circles, tattoos were considered an absolute taboo. They were associated with marginalized segments of society: sailors returning from long voyages (bringing exotic designs), as well as criminals and vagrants who were forcibly branded.
The main obstacle to body adornments among pious citizens was a strict religious prohibition. The Book of Leviticus (Old Testament) categorically states: “You shall not make any cuts in your flesh or tattoo any marks on yourselves.”
For a devout Protestant, as Smits likely was, consciously violating this commandment was an act of profound cultural and religious disobedience.
Why did Smits take such a step? Comets in that era were perceived as ominous portents, foretelling war, plague, or changes in power. However, Van Gent believes that Smits was not superstitious:
“He belonged to an intellectual milieu. His stepfather was among scholars, and the renowned poet and publicist Jacob Cats, who also wrote pamphlets about that very comet, was his indirect relative.” It is likely that the comet tattoo was not a sign of fear, but rather a symbol of a personal, rationally understood event, imprinted on the skin as an eternal reminder of his birth or an important period of his life, rather than a mystical amulet.
The Mystery of the Pigment and Modern Echoes
The circumstances of the tattoo’s creation remain shrouded in mystery. It is unknown where, when, and by whom the design was applied. However, legendary tattoo artist Henk Schiffmacher, one of the most authoritative voices in global tattoo culture, has shared his opinion.
Schiffmacher noted that the pigment in the depiction has acquired a characteristic bluish hue, indicating that the tattoo was done long before the portrait was painted in 1674. This confirms that Smits wore his body art for many years, not hesitating to immortalize it in an official portrait.
Significance of the Discovery for Tattoo History:
This finding radically expands the chronology and social context of tattooing in Western Europe. If it was previously believed that tattoos only returned to the mainstream with the active development of ocean voyages in the 18th-19th centuries and the fashion for “exoticism,” Smits’ portrait demonstrates that even in strict 17th-century Protestant circles, there existed an underground or at least unadvertised tradition of body marking with deep personal meaning.
Inspired by the discovery, Henk Schiffmacher has announced a unique initiative: next month, he is willing to give five comet tattoos for free to applicants whose motivational letters are the most convincing and original. Thus, an ancient 17th-century symbol finds new embodiment in modern culture.
In the coming months, the historical portrait that hid its secret for 351 years will be available to the public at the Amsterdam Museum’s branch, the Huis Willet-Holthuysen on the Herengracht canal.