Framed by sober colors Thomas Kuhn looks directly out at the viewer. The artist used a simple composition to focus attention on his face setting up a contrast between the dark background hair and clothing and the Thomas’ white shirt and fair skin. Only his red hat enlivens the image.

The sense of individuality conveyed by the Thomas’ costume and the artist’s close focus and carefully observed facial details suggest the hand of the portraitist Elliot Jacobsz. The similarity of costume to those in one of Jacobsz.’s first militia portrait of 1529 further suggests that he painted this portrait at about the same time.