Portret van Antoine Furetière 1666 - 1707

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we have a striking portrait of Antoine Furetière, dating roughly from 1666 to 1707, engraved by Gérard Edelinck. What captures your eye about this piece? Editor: That knowing little smirk, like he's privy to some grand joke only intellectuals get. It’s got this subtle irreverence battling with the rigid formality of the time. Curator: Precisely. Furetière, though an abbot and member of the Académie Française, was quite controversial. This print immortalizes him, even amidst the turbulent politics of language and literature he navigated. The gaze, you see, might be defiance. Editor: Or maybe just indigestion after a particularly rich meal! But I see what you mean. It makes you think about what it meant to challenge norms back then, and how portraits played a role in building or destroying reputations. I can almost hear him arguing with someone. Curator: Indeed. And the Académie certainly became the stage for many such intellectual dramas. His ambition to compile his own dictionary, diverging from the Académie's work, led to fierce disputes and ultimately his expulsion. Editor: You know, despite being black and white and from centuries ago, there’s something very 'alive' about this portrait. Maybe it’s that curl of hair escaping his wig, a subtle rebellion echoing the man himself. It jumps off the print! It transcends the limits of simple likeness. Curator: The artist has undoubtedly managed to infuse Furetière with a potent spirit, a testament to the engraving skills of Edelinck, placing him firmly in the artistic currents of the baroque style. Prints like these served to disseminate images and ideologies. Editor: And even now, it still sparks stories. Isn’t it amazing that a simple portrait can keep a centuries-old literary feud flickering? Curator: Absolutely, a reminder that art and intellect are forever intertwined in the dance of history. Editor: Well, next time I feel like shaking things up, I might just strike that Furetière pose!