Portret van Petrus Dubois 1670 - 1724

Curator: Immediately, I'm struck by the weightiness of this image. There's a sort of brooding presence, isn't there? It's Jacob Gole's "Portret van Petrus Dubois," likely created somewhere between 1670 and 1724. The work is currently held at the Rijksmuseum, executed using intaglio engraving techniques. Editor: Brooding, yes, but I also feel a strange comfort. The circular framing and soft, swirling hair create a kind of intimate bubble. It's like he's inviting you in for a philosophical debate, or maybe just a really good cup of coffee and a complaint about the weather. Curator: Intaglio was a fascinating method. These engravings and pencil drawings allowed for a broad distribution of his image, fostering his presence in society, quite literally. His dress too signals this standing within a social hierarchy, indicative of certain religious groups present at the time. Editor: It’s the tiny details for me. See how the light catches the buttons on his coat? Almost luminous. Makes him feel so alive despite the medium. He also looks as though he is suppressing laughter, like a child trapped in church. Curator: And this would have mattered greatly in his time. These details, like the luxurious curls of his hair, contribute to an image cultivated for posterity, subtly implying status, learning and influence to those of a particular standing in society at the time. Editor: Mmh, cultivated indeed! It's as if he's a slightly reluctant celebrity, forever caught in a moment of self-aware seriousness. An impressive fellow to be sure! Curator: Gole managed to weave into his portrait all the symbolic visual cues denoting power and wisdom according to the artistic standards of his era. A potent representation of societal ideals. Editor: Perhaps art like this invites us to consider: What symbols would *we* choose, do you think, to represent ourselves today?