Portret van Honoré-Gabriel de Riqueti, graaf van Mirabeau 1820 - 1827

Editor: This engraving from the 1820s by Jean Pierre Sudre, titled *Portret van Honoré-Gabriel de Riqueti, graaf van Mirabeau*, is so crisp! It almost feels austere, but somehow noble too. What's your take on this portrait? Curator: Well, firstly, portraits from this era are like frozen moments in time. Neoclassicism really strived for that ideal, didn’t it? Here, the crisp lines of the engraving almost feel…aspirational. What does it tell us? Is it trying to say something more, beyond a simple likeness? Editor: It’s interesting you say aspirational. It does seem to elevate Mirabeau. It makes me wonder if he commissioned it or someone else did. Curator: Indeed, who funded this? Who gets to choose how history sees us, eh? But look closer, is there an element of romanticism creeping in amidst that formal neo-classical shell? That hint of a shadow around the eyes, perhaps? Or, more cynically, maybe he was simply trying to soften the blow a little: "Yes, I’m powerful but I'm not heartless!". Editor: That’s such a good point! And it totally changes the way I look at the print! It almost adds an air of vulnerability, even if it's manufactured. Curator: Exactly! Always ask "who's paying", because even the sharpest lines, or brushstrokes if you wish, can be wielded to serve many interests. Always consider all the sides, all the versions! What a thought… Editor: This has definitely given me a whole new appreciation for this seemingly simple portrait.