Kgl. konfessionarius Christian Bastholm 1782

Curator: Here we have J.F. Clemens' 1782 engraving, "Kgl. konfessionarius Christian Bastholm." Editor: The lines! I’m immediately struck by the intense linear detail. It's so precise, creating form out of what is essentially just controlled hatching. The evenness gives it a slightly ethereal quality. Curator: Yes, the meticulous engraving really speaks to the ethos of the period. Clemens chose to portray Christian Bastholm, a Royal Confessionarius, a very important spiritual advisor to the King. Note the oval frame. Such frames often represent an idealized vision. What symbols are highlighted to denote his profession and stature? Editor: It seems as if the focus has definitely been put on him. His clothes are nice enough and not too distracting to the actual portrait. I wonder what paper stock was used? You can see the foxing that happened over time, implying something of its content, fiber, and aging process, like looking at the strata of a career over time. Curator: Indeed. Beyond that, consider how his features, like the almost geometric arrangement of his face, and the wig's careful curls were deliberately placed. These choices create an impression of someone grounded in reason, as the rational classicist ideals of the period preferred. There is order. Editor: To get this amount of detail from a print, it's obvious they would’ve had to have had very fine tools to have rendered this. The work that went into the making suggests he was important to someone. Curator: Engravings such as this allowed for the widespread distribution of images, furthering the dissemination of power, especially in regards to representation. Bastholm, as an advisor and confessor to the King, held significant cultural influence, which I think is visually coded into the medium itself. Editor: Right, seeing that labor actually makes the portrait breathe, connecting it to something deeper about the material conditions that supported artistic expression. Thank you! Curator: Thank you! The convergence of medium and symbol indeed provides a richer view into the cultural moment.