Portret van Johann Jakob Werner 1737 - 1799

Editor: We're looking at "Portret van Johann Jakob Werner" by Christian Daniel Gotthard Rockstroh, likely made sometime between 1737 and 1799. It's a print, an engraving to be exact. There's something about his eyes – they’re so intense, almost challenging. What stands out to you? Curator: You know, it's funny you mention the eyes. They have that spark, don’t they? What I see is the negotiation between the formal expectations of portraiture at the time and, let's call it, a whiff of the exotic with that turban. Do you feel a sense of theatricality? Editor: Absolutely, there's something performative about it. The turban seems almost like a costume piece. How does that feed into the whole Neoclassical thing happening at the time? Curator: Right? That’s where it gets interesting. Neoclassicism often looked back to the perceived purity and order of antiquity, but here we have this almost playful transgression. A kind of wink. A rebellion expressed with silk, maybe? It certainly speaks to the changing cultural landscape, this hunger for the “other,” romanticizing foreign cultures. Don't you think there's a little bit of caricature in it as well? Editor: Now that you mention it, there is! Almost like he's playing a role. It completely changes my perspective. Curator: Doesn’t it? Art’s all about those shifting perceptions. The dialogue between the subject, the artist, and, of course, us, the viewers. Editor: This has definitely given me a whole new appreciation for this particular historical moment. Curator: Exactly, a new layer revealed. I was initially caught up with its serene expression and flawless intaglio execution but your youthful take got me thinking about identity, social theater and subtle challenges to prevailing style. Thanks.