Portret van Timoer Lenk 1615 - 1647

Curator: Here we have "Portret van Timoer Lenk," an engraving from between 1615 and 1647, attributed to Jerôme David. Editor: He has this sort of haunted gaze, hasn't he? It's arresting, like he knows something we don’t. Even with the rather opulent hat. Curator: Well, that hat is certainly a statement, isn’t it? What interests me is how a print, a medium ostensibly about reproduction, is used here to depict a powerful historical figure. What purpose did these early printed portraits serve? Editor: Power and propaganda, of course. Visuals have always legitimized those in power. The controlled gaze, the impressive dress…Tamerlane becomes a spectacle for a European audience. Curator: And an exotic one at that! Looking at the piece more closely, I find myself drawn to the intricacy of the engraving itself. The tiny lines that define his facial features, the way the light catches the plume…it’s a beautiful thing, really. Do you feel a tension here, between the aesthetic pleasure and its implied purpose? Editor: Definitely. On one hand, it's about celebrating the European mastery of engraving. It also highlights the violence embedded in this depiction, portraying Tamerlane within a specific power dynamic. Who has the right to represent whom, and for what reasons? Curator: It gives you pause, certainly. It’s as if the artistry invites you in, but the underlying implications…well, that’s a longer conversation, isn’t it? Still, that ambiguity makes the print endlessly engaging to consider. Editor: Absolutely. And isn't it fascinating how this historical figure is remembered across time and media? This print certainly adds a layer to his story. Curator: It really makes one ponder what gets memorialized and how these portrayals shape our understanding of history. It’s so much more than just a picture. Editor: Exactly. These visual representations reinforce colonial ways of thinking, and how the narratives of others are shaped.