Joost van den Vondel 1620 - 1674

Editor: So, here we have Jan Lievens' "Joost van den Vondel," a drawing from sometime between 1620 and 1674. It's currently hanging in the Met. My first impression is just... gravitas! The subject's intensity is really striking. What do you see in it? Curator: Oh, that gaze pierces through centuries, doesn't it? For me, this piece hums with the quiet drama of intellectual life. Vondel, the towering playwright of the Dutch Golden Age... Lievens captures not just a likeness, but the weight of words, the turmoil of thought made manifest. Tell me, what does the background suggest to you? Does it speak? Editor: I noticed that, almost like a stage set. There's the hint of a landscape, but also that rather stark architectural feature on the right. Curator: Exactly! It's as if Vondel exists between the world of nature, inspiration perhaps, and the constructed world of theatre, his craft. The light is fantastic! Notice how Lievens uses the engraving to emphasize his features, those knowing eyes. Makes you wonder what secrets and tragedies Vondel has witnessed, doesn't it? Editor: Definitely a sense of experience etched on his face. The little details like the ring on his finger… almost gives him a modern feel too, in a strange way. What about the choice of materials here, this engraving? Does it add to the portrait's power? Curator: Absolutely. Engraving lends itself to sharp detail, those fine lines allow Lievens to build up incredible texture in Vondel’s clothes, and those crinkles around the eyes. There’s a discipline to it, a deliberateness that echoes the meticulous work of a writer, shaping ideas with care. Plus, prints are designed to circulate, allowing for a wider audience to reflect on the image of Vondel! What will you take away from it? Editor: I guess for me, it is appreciating the layers within a seemingly straightforward portrait - cultural context, the technical skill, that human element, so complex. Curator: Agreed. Each gaze at a work uncovers new perspectives. I might write a poem in his honor, now I know his thoughts. Thank you for the talk!