Jonas Suyderhoef

Jonas Suyderhoef, Suyderhoef, Jan, ( 1613, † May 9, 1686 in Haarlem ) was a Dutch engraver, who has made ​​reproductions of contemporary paintings.

Life and work

From Suyderhoefs life only a few data are known. He was a son of Andreas Pietersz. Suyderhoef, the secretary of the first Dutch ambassador in Constantinople Opel and nephew of Pieter Hasselaers. When his teacher the Haarlem painter and engraver Pieter Soutman is suspected. After 1664 his name appears several times in the directory of the Haarlem painters' guild in 1678, he held the office of dean there.

Suyderhoef mastered the art of engraving perfectly and reached on Finest successive tones nearly the quality of etchings. His reproductions of Frans Hals stand out for the perfection with which he could approach the characteristic brush stroke from neck only with use of the stylus.

He was therefore very much in demand among the painters of his time, because their works were known at that time made ​​solely by this reproduction technology. He has worked with over 50 artists together, including Peter Paul Rubens, Rembrandt, Anthony van Dyck, Frans Hals, of which he alone stabbed 12 portraits, as well as Gerrit van Honthorst, Adriaen van Ostade, Joachim von Sandrart, Gerard ter Borch and Jan Lievens. Also the knowledge of Caravaggio's pictures, which was of great importance for the Carravagisten the Netherlands, was promoted by his reproductions.

Of his numerous reproductions for 140 stitches are preserved, including the engraving after Gerard ter Borch's history painting Peace of Münster.