The connoisseur of prints (Dr. Aegidius Timmermann)

Jan Toorop was one of the most versatile and original Dutch artists of the Symbolist generation, moving fluidly between Japonisme, Symbolism, Pointillism, and eventually Catholic devotional art. His 1900 portrait of Dr. Aegidius Timmermann — described as a connoisseur of prints — belongs to his more restrained portrait mode, in which psychological penetration takes priority over decorative excess. Timmermann's status as a collector and connoisseur places him in the world of Dutch cultural patronage that sustained Toorop and his contemporaries. The Kröller-Müller Museum holds the painting as part of its significant collection of Toorop's work.

The portrait is realized in Toorop's controlled portrait manner, distinct from his more overtly Symbolist works. The figure is presented frontally with careful tonal modelling of the face. The background is neutral and undemanding, directing attention to the sitter's expression and physiognomy.