Portret van Franciscus Fabricius 1694 - 1731

Curator: This engraving, held here at the Rijksmuseum, offers us a glimpse of Franciscus Fabricius, a professor of theology, rendered in line by Pieter van Gunst sometime between 1694 and 1731. What strikes you most immediately? Editor: The detail is fascinating. The way the light catches his wig—you can practically feel the texture! But, if I'm being honest, he seems a little… stiff? Formal to the point of being almost uncomfortable. Curator: It’s interesting that you use the word “stiff.” Knowing that this is an engraving, a process of meticulous labor and control, it mirrors a certain kind of… intellectual rigor, wouldn't you say? Think about the material implications, the hours of focused hand work that go into each of those etched lines. Editor: You're right; I do appreciate that meticulous craft, especially with a magnifying glass. I wonder what Van Gunst was paid for this—and the relationship between him and his client. Also what kind of metal plates were used for printing this engraving? It also seems slightly embellished, especially the ornamentation in the oval frame. Maybe he needed something to elevate his status? Or maybe there’s a subtle humor at play here? Look at the family crest! The three horse shoes and stars; does this have anything to do with his profession and family? Curator: Absolutely! I think that blend is characteristic of baroque portraiture—the striving for grand presentation alongside intimate, human moments. His hand, positioned as it is, draws your gaze but doesn't really signal any clear emotion; it feels almost staged. Editor: But still fascinating, don't you think, the relationship of craft, economy and patronage shaping images that seem almost inevitable and self-important at first. Thanks for unveiling a small portion about the bigger story. Curator: A wonderful reminder to keep in mind when looking closer—that what we're viewing is the sum of its many material parts and labor!