Portret van Johann Wilhelm Baur 1662

Curator: This is an etching and engraving made in 1662 by Joannes Meyssens, a portrait of Johann Wilhelm Baur. It resides at the Rijksmuseum. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: Well, the baroque sensibility is certainly there, in the dynamism suggested by the posture and flowing hair. It almost looks unfinished in parts, but then the detailing around the collar and face is incredible. The textures, from fabric to skin, are expertly rendered. Curator: Let's look at that detail in the lace collar, which features a repeated stylized floral motif, perhaps representing sophistication and cultivated taste, signaling Baur's status. The artist meticulously details its delicate pattern, conveying an attention to precision characteristic of formal portraiture of this era. Editor: It makes one wonder about Baur’s place and stature. These floral emblems were sometimes integrated into coats of arms and would communicate a subject’s lineage and history. I do appreciate the confidence suggested by the posture, though. The left hand, possessively over the robe or coat, can signal ownership or achievement. Curator: You’ve noticed how Meyssens uses linear hatching to suggest light and shadow? Note that the lines vary in density and direction to describe the volumes of the face and clothing. The face is sharply focused compared to the hazy backdrop. Editor: But look too at that backdrop! Behind the subject we see a receding geometric abstraction. It provides a contrast that makes him seem ever more real, and grounds him in his time, his world. Even those starkly geometric lines seem alive! Curator: The tension created by this combination of careful structure with fluid dynamism makes the composition remarkably engaging, I think. There's a structured chaos that reflects the emotional register of the baroque period, a premonition of things to come… Editor: Yes, in essence we are shown that our subjects lived in rich worlds with histories and cosmologies all their own, no less layered than our own interior lives. I found the cultural markers insightful. Curator: For me, this engraving, considered purely on its formal qualities, is a compelling visual exercise in conveying volume and light, reflecting the enduring power of form.