Portret van Engelbertus Matthias Engelberts 1784

Curator: Here we have Reinier Vinkeles's 1784 engraving, "Portret van Engelbertus Matthias Engelberts," housed here at the Rijksmuseum. It's a fascinating piece from the late 18th century. Editor: It strikes me immediately as rather austere, despite the ornamental frame. The profile view, the severe gaze... very formal. Curator: Indeed. It’s Neoclassical in style, embracing clarity, order and a return to classical ideals. This print would have been produced using an engraving, where the image is incised into a plate and then printed onto paper. Editor: So, in considering materials, what does this print on paper tell us about accessibility and distribution of images at the time? This wasn’t a unique painted portrait for a single patron; it’s a reproducible image. Curator: Precisely. Engravings democratized portraiture. More broadly, the symbolic significance of Engelbertus Matthias Engelberts himself, a theologian, should be understood. The era valued reason and intellectual pursuits, ideas which he clearly embodies. Editor: He's presented as an emblem of Enlightenment ideals, certainly. It's also intriguing how the frame and lettering below create a visual anchor. Text functioning as imagery. What emotions were such visual portraits meant to invoke? Curator: Perhaps reverence, respect, a sense of intellectual authority. The consistent linework creates an aesthetic tied to logic. This period looked back at Roman portraiture and sought that feeling of wisdom through accurate representation. Editor: Right, the consistent use of lines emphasizes that desire. Although somewhat static from our contemporary perspective, the clarity that Vinkeles achieves offers a very precise, very constructed vision of 18th century societal values. Curator: Vinkeles manages to depict a specific individual while simultaneously adhering to broader cultural values of the time. A beautiful example of how prints became vital tools for the spread of ideas. Editor: And also a stark reminder that visual culture and the act of creation are rooted in a material world and that that world informs how, even now, we regard the image. Curator: It really demonstrates the connection between imagery, material culture and broader social trends of the 18th century. Thanks for providing your insight on the piece.