Portret van Johann Friedrich II van Saksen after 1601

Curator: Well, the first thing that strikes me is how heavy everything feels – not in a sad way, more like impressively weighed down by history. Editor: And literally weighed down, check out the sheer opulence! Dominicus Custos made this engraving, "Portret van Johann Friedrich II van Saksen," sometime after 1601, and it's now housed right here in the Rijksmuseum. Look at the fur, the embroidery, the weight of power and social expectations etched into his very features. Curator: Absolutely. The attire signals this figure's authority and class position. Consider that his reign was marked by political intrigue and conflict, part of a much larger power struggle in the Holy Roman Empire, particularly involving religious reform. This portrait immortalizes him, specifically framing the Duke as a figure of resilience amidst adversity. Editor: He does look…stoic. The engraving’s got that signature Renaissance formality, sure, but even through all the layers of noble posing, I think you catch a hint of exhaustion, of weariness with it all. Do you sense a shadow of melancholy lurking? Curator: It's plausible to interpret melancholy; consider the context—the aftermath of the Schmalkaldic War and the limitations imposed on his rule definitely weighed heavily on him. Even if it’s only performative melancholy—necessary for his position! Editor: Right, it might be just good PR for a 17th-century duke! All of this detail is pretty cool. What strikes me most is how Dominicus Custos worked only with an engraving to achieve such richness in texture – from the smooth planes of the face to the bristling hairs in his beard. A technical masterclass. Curator: I find it intriguing how art is often a response to power and privilege; prints and engravings like this one played an important role in propagating idealized images of authority. And it shaped how rulers wanted to be seen! Editor: Indeed, which brings up larger issues of representation and legacy – whose stories are told, and how? In a way, that’s a pretty amazing thing to take away from one dude's engraved face, centuries later.