A Young Man with a Crown of Laurel Leaves

Cornelis van Haarlem is primarily known today for his mythological and biblical scenes executed in the mannerist style, with elongated bodies, twisting poses, and exaggerated musculature. During his late career, Cornelisz. van Haarlem turned to simpler subjects, such as this image of a young man in a costume suggestive of armor from an earlier period in history. The artist depicted the laurel wreath, an ancient Greek symbol of glory, with great definition, applying minuscule dabs of pink on the leaves and stems. With so much focus on this element, the painting’s theme could be a generalized contemplation of the rewards and costs of glory and victory.