Portret van de Franse staatsman Nicolas le Camus 1678

Editor: So, here we have Pieter van Schuppen’s 1678 engraving, "Portret van de Franse staatsman Nicolas le Camus," housed right here at the Rijksmuseum. I’m immediately struck by the sheer detail – it's amazing what he achieved with line alone. It has such a stately, almost intimidating feel, don’t you think? What's your take? Curator: Intimidating is one word, I might use ‘commanding,’ or even ‘assured.’ It reminds me how important portraiture was for establishing status in the Baroque period. Think of it as seventeenth-century Instagram. Van Schuppen doesn’t just give us a likeness; he gives us a carefully constructed image of power. What about the ornamentation around the portrait itself? What do you make of it? Editor: Well, the text surrounding the image gives the piece a rather ornamental flavor and really adds to that commanding feel. I'd also add that it could also be to suggest prestige by virtue of surrounding himself with symbols of influence.. Curator: Precisely! It’s visual rhetoric, crafting a very particular message for its audience. You can almost imagine Nicolas using this image for networking or promotion! What would be a contemporary analogy? Perhaps a Linkedin profile? Editor: Exactly! Now, thinking about it like that is a little funny. Do you think Nicolas would appreciate that parallel, or would he think it degrades the art? Curator: Oh, I think he would absolutely appreciate the comparison! It really strips away the layers to what's at its core--self representation and broadcasting your image in a specific way for others to interpret you as a leader, to elevate his station. To me, thinking of portraiture like this invites people in rather than gatekeeping the piece. What are your final thoughts now? Editor: It definitely helps make it feel more relevant and understandable. It gives new insight to this kind of historical portrayal. I'll look at Baroque portraits very differently moving forward.