Portret van Nicolaus Stadtmann 1582 - 1671

Curator: Standing here in gallery 14, we find ourselves before a piece entitled "Portret van Nicolaus Stadtmann", an engraving by Heinrich Ulrich dating sometime between 1582 and 1671. What are your immediate thoughts? Editor: My eyes are drawn to the ruff. Its intricate layering feels almost sculptural against the flat background, creating an interesting tension with the formal portraiture and hinting at social complexities tied to status and labor. Curator: Indeed. From a formalist perspective, notice how the artist uses line weight and density to create contrast between the detailed textures of his fur coat and the smoother surfaces of his face. The ovoid frame also creates dynamic movement that entraps the viewer in Nicolaus Stadtmann's realm. Editor: To me, it also draws attention to the immense skill involved in producing an intricate print like this one. Considering the probable socio-economic standing of Nicholas, do you imagine he took much notice of Ulrich's manual labor as he produced it? How often did these social groups come in contact? I see the materials speaking as cultural indicators of privilege. Curator: These are all very good questions. The circular composition contains further Latin text, enhancing the overall symbolic richness and signifying status, achievement, and perhaps a deeper moral message embedded in Renaissance humanist ideals. These components form the essence of this striking baroque piece. Editor: Zooming into the portrait itself, I see such subtle hatching that it looks photorealistic, but, instead, reminds us of the many hours it must have taken Ulrich to slowly create the tonality within this etching. And yet the labor involved is, quite ironically, intended to show us the wealth of his sitter through its artfulness! It makes me wonder about the conditions and networks Ulrich relied on to ply his craft. Curator: His stoic face presents a mask, almost like classical architecture with clear demarcations and balanced planes, typical of the stoicism favored during his lifetime. A fascinating intersection between interiority and material reality in play within Ulrich's image. Editor: Examining "Portret van Nicolaus Stadtmann" has deepened our perspective. Paying attention to the tangible means of art production encourages dialogue about its societal repercussions.