Portret van Johann Ulrich Riedner 1708

Editor: Here we have a portrait of Johann Ulrich Riedner, created in 1708 by Hieronymus Böllmann. It’s an engraving, giving it such precise lines. What strikes me is how formally composed it is, and that elaborate ruff. What do you see in this piece? Curator: The ruff is indeed fascinating! It represents more than just fashion. Think of the circle as a symbol of completeness, of enclosure. He's visually walled off, separate. And then there's his pointed finger. It acts almost like an accusing arrow, a learned admonition. But pointing at what, or at whom? Is he referring to the text beneath his image or the book in front of him, the viewer? The gaze goes toward the viewer, bringing them in and creating an ambiguity to the subjects power over the text and how its wisdom may, in return, impact his viewer. Editor: That's a powerful reading! I hadn’t considered the way the ruff isolates him. The pointing finger definitely adds a layer of complexity too. Is it supposed to be confrontational? Curator: Confrontational perhaps, but also instructive. Consider the era – Baroque. Power, knowledge, and divine right were visually asserted. But, notice the gentleness in his eyes; a wisdom tempered with humanity. He might challenge, but he does so for your own improvement, reflecting the ideals of both piety and humanist scholarship common at the time. What we are perceiving as aggression, perhaps represents his faith. Editor: So, the symbols aren't always straightforward! Thank you! Curator: Indeed. The layering of symbolism provides continued fascination, reflecting culture and the human condition through art, so this image acts almost like an individual performance of those memories.