Portret van Erich Christoph von Plotho, met gezicht op Regensburg 1759 - 1788

Editor: So, this is a print, an engraving to be precise, from sometime between 1759 and 1788 by Johann Esaias Nilson, called "Portret van Erich Christoph von Plotho, met gezicht op Regensburg." That's a mouthful! I'm immediately struck by its formality – it feels like a very staged and symbolic representation. What do you make of it? Curator: Formality, yes! But beneath that powdered wig, who knows what secrets, what sly humors are hiding? Think of it less as a perfect rendering and more like… a baroque meme. Everything’s heightened! The frills, the allegorical figures – they're shouting, "Look at my status!" rather than whispering truths about poor Erich. Notice how Regensburg, the city behind him, becomes almost another accessory. Makes you wonder what the engraver was thinking while etching this ode to status. Did he secretly smirk at the baron’s pomposity? Editor: A baroque meme - I like that! The level of detail is really quite astounding for an engraving. Does that level of embellishment tell us something about the era? Curator: Oh, absolutely! This wasn’t just image-making; it was reputation-making! Every element, from the flourishing script to the tiny cherubs, was carefully curated to convey power and legitimacy. But you see the seeds of change, too. The slightly stiff pose hints at a society starting to question these rigid displays. It’s a little like they knew the party wouldn't last forever, so might as well engrave it into metal to have for posterity. Editor: That's fascinating! It's like a snapshot of a society in transition. I'll definitely be thinking of this as a "baroque meme" from now on! Curator: Wonderful! That’s exactly what these encounters are about – making old things vibrate with new insights. Maybe we can find Erich's long lost meme account one day!