Portret van Jurriaan Buttner 1737 - 1792

Editor: So, this is John Greenwood’s print, “Portret van Jurriaan Buttner,” dating back to somewhere between 1737 and 1792. It's an engraving, and it strikes me as intensely focused. All the lines draw my eye to Buttner and his concentrated gaze. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, first off, you’ve gotta love the immediacy, right? I feel like I'm intruding on a very private moment. The guy’s so engrossed, it's almost voyeuristic. And the cross-hatching, the sheer detail he’s packed into a tiny print. It's Baroque drama meeting Realism's sharp gaze. Does his commitment spark a hunger for close looking within you too? Editor: Absolutely! It makes me want to grab a sketchbook myself. So, the inscription beneath the image… is it related to the portrait? Curator: Intriguing, isn’t it? My loose translation tells me that Fine art isn't exclusively for the young... someone becomes a master by training into their elder years. Its inclusion tells me that Buttner maybe had the gift of age, and years of practice; I admire his talent for being devoted. Editor: I love that! It adds another layer to the narrative. At first glance, it's just a portrait. But it celebrates the dedication to craft that comes with time and experience. Curator: Exactly! Art about art, practice, dedication. The whole image is full of the life-affirming value of practice; to stop learning is to stop living! And doesn't that make this much more powerful? Editor: It really does. It transforms my understanding of this artwork completely.