Portret van Madame de La Fayette 1742

Editor: Here we have Etienne Fessard's 1742 engraving, "Portret van Madame de La Fayette", housed here at the Rijksmuseum. The texture and shading, achieved through engraving, create a rather contemplative, almost melancholy mood, wouldn't you agree? What is your impression? Curator: Oh, she's utterly lost in thought, isn’t she? I see echoes of history swirling around her. Her posture is almost theatrical, a melancholic muse caught in a moment of quiet drama. But also the era comes through for me—there’s something incredibly powerful in the lines, almost austere, befitting someone carrying the weight of a Comtesse and also maybe just, like, *being*. Have you ever looked at a historical portrait and thought, 'What was their *life* actually like?’ Editor: Absolutely! I’m fascinated by how artists used composition to convey someone's inner world, even centuries later. What’s particularly interesting to you about the Baroque style as it’s manifested here? Curator: For me, it's in the almost sculpted nature of the forms. The engraver plays with light and shadow to add this dramatic flair which kind of contradicts her somewhat muted pose, to carve Madame de La Fayette from the light. Baroque at its heart *loves* to go against expectation. Isn't she intriguing? Editor: She is! I didn't fully appreciate how expressive engravings could be, especially in capturing the mood of the sitter. Thank you for highlighting those elements, it’s changed how I look at this. Curator: And thank you. These old prints have secrets and a touch of humor waiting for those patient enough to find them!