Portret van Jonge Kees, 1652 1659 - 1661

Editor: So, this is "Portret van Jonge Kees, 1652," or "Portrait of Young Kees," created sometime around 1660. It’s a print, an engraving actually, and the detail is just incredible! There's something almost heroic, yet oddly unsettling about his gaze. What strikes you about this portrait? Curator: Heroic and unsettling—I like that tension! It takes me back to a time when portraiture was more than just capturing a likeness; it was about crafting an image, projecting power and ideals. Look at Kees there, framed by that laurel wreath, like a Roman emperor, and then there are those ships in the background – constant comings and goings. It is almost as if Young Kees and his narrative is carried on their shoulders; What does that gaze really say to you? Editor: I see him looking… past me, almost. Like he’s contemplating something much larger than the moment, and maybe slightly irritated about it! The ships certainly add to that idea – a life intertwined with travel or the sea? Curator: Precisely. The gaze and ships can be interpreted as that constant duality of power and burden of leadership or maybe an obligation. Engravings like these circulated widely, shaping perceptions of individuals and events. Does knowing that shift your perspective at all? Editor: Definitely. I'm thinking about the intent behind it – not just documentation, but almost… propaganda? And that makes me question the reality behind that gaze even more. Curator: It’s all constructed, of course, but that's the fun part, isn't it? We get to peek behind the curtain and question it. To see him now. Editor: It really is. Thanks; it adds a new dimension. Curator: Absolutely! Now, about those laurel leaves, though… I wonder where Kees gathered them? Another tale for another time!