P[eter] Wesseling 1744

Editor: This is Pieter Tanjé's portrait of P[eter] Wesseling, and it feels like it's celebrating academia. All those books! What do you see in the way it's made? Curator: Well, considering the engraving process, it's about reproduction and dissemination of knowledge. The labor involved in creating these prints, and the purpose of wide distribution, is key to understanding its significance. Editor: So, it's less about the individual and more about making him accessible? Curator: Exactly. The materiality and availability are crucial. Think about how the production process itself contributes to Wesseling's legacy. Editor: That shifts my perspective completely! I thought it was simply a formal portrait, but it's so much more than that.