Portret van John Law 1720

Curator: This engraving, "Portret van John Law," was created around 1720 by Leonard Schenk and is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum. The baroque styled image seems quite formal, and presents the financier John Law standing amidst an intricately designed garden. Editor: My first impression is: ambitious hair! And lace, and an awfully imposing stance. You can practically smell the powdered wig, and the ink of too many financial agreements, all hanging over the formal and restrained landscape depicted in this image. Curator: Indeed, let's delve into the material aspects. The image's production relies heavily on the engraver's skill and access to printing resources, suggesting the intended circulation for its time. Its status as both portraiture and historical record is clearly intended to influence public perception, wouldn’t you say? Editor: Definitely. The setting--this formal garden, Law's ostentatious attire, even his gaze. It's all carefully orchestrated. It whispers, "See how far prosperity can take you!" The tiny paper documents he's clutching…what narratives do those papers signify? Curator: The materials and labor of engraving themselves speak to hierarchies within art production. How do we classify and place value on such images amidst paintings and sculpture. Where does this 'portrait' stand in this context? Editor: Good question! This method allows accessibility and dissemination; perhaps this portrait democratizes the image. Rather than existing as unique painting for aristocratic consumption, it’s available and can spread throughout society. That, in itself, disrupts conventions! Curator: This distribution aspect is fascinating. And it forces us to re-evaluate its meaning: to whom does this piece appeal to at the time, who purchases it, and how does the portrait shape popular belief about its subject matter? Editor: Precisely. It reminds me that artistic mediums themselves participate in, and even drive, meaning and interpretation. So, thinking about "Portret van John Law" what have we come to understand that initially remained unseen? Curator: The complex relationships of materials, skills, economic interests and historical narratives that go into this piece, makes me see it is more complex and interesting than I thought when just examining it as an engraving.