Johannes van Vilsteren

Johannes van Vilsteren was a documented printmaker active in the mid-eighteenth century. His productive period spanned at least 33 years, beginning circa 1723 and continuing through 1756. Van Vilsteren’s surviving body of work focuses entirely on portraiture, employing the techniques of etching and engraving to document prominent Dutch figures of the era.

His legacy is preserved through museum collections, which hold five known prints by the artist. These Johannes van Vilsteren prints are represented in the holdings of institutions such as the Rijksmuseum, establishing the historical and art-historical credibility of his output.

Notable works in his catalog include the biographical studies Portret van Samuel Koenraad de Bruine, Portret van Johan Raye van Breukelerwaard, and the study of the clergyman, Portret van de predikant J. de Jager. Other significant subjects include the detailed likenesses of Portret van Andries Schoemaker and Portret van Andries Bicker. As works created during the 18th century, these historical images typically reside within the public domain, allowing for widespread access and study. Today, high-quality prints of Van Vilsteren’s work are utilized as historical resources documenting the societal figures of his time.