Portret van Christoph Scheibler 1651 - 1665

Curator: Here we have “Portret van Christoph Scheibler,” an engraving created between 1651 and 1665 by Cornelis van Dalen I. It’s currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Editor: The texture immediately grabs you. It's a symphony of delicate lines etched with palpable skill; the engraver clearly understood the materiality of the plate and how to coax an image from it. Curator: Absolutely. The strategic use of hatching and cross-hatching generates a marvelous sense of depth and form. Notice how the lines curve and thicken to articulate the contours of Scheibler's face, capturing his features with a remarkable level of realism. Editor: The engraving process itself speaks volumes. Consider the labor involved in creating this likeness, each line meticulously carved by hand. This portrait is not merely an image, but a testament to the engraver's technical mastery and dedication to his craft. It represents the skill and time, physical labor that is becoming a thing of the past in our days. Curator: And the composition itself guides our eye so expertly. The oval frame contains the subject, drawing our attention to his steady gaze and the book he holds. The inscription above and below, though difficult for contemporary eyes to decipher, completes the symbolic framing of the man. Editor: Those inscriptions really place the image in its societal moment, emphasizing the humanist values with the verses and accolades that almost adorn his existence and his image as physical material. The portrait is very clean as image. It presents us with all of his social weight at that time. Curator: It does provide a fascinating insight into the cultural values of the period, presenting Scheibler not just as an individual but as a symbol of erudition and moral virtue. Editor: Indeed, seeing it within the gallery, it makes me question: What value do we place on skills acquired after years of painstaking labor and knowledge today? This is part of the context that forms this engraving in my opinion. Curator: An astute question that bridges past and present. Thank you for illuminating this remarkable portrait with such depth, focusing on texture, making and cultural implications. Editor: It has been a pleasure deconstructing this captivating example of craftsmanship together.