Portret van Frederik Herman von Schomberg 1857 - 1908

Curator: It has an almost ethereal quality, don't you think? It's all silvery and delicate. Editor: And imposing at the same time. This is a reproduction, an engraving to be exact, of "Portret van Frederik Herman von Schomberg" by Emrik & Binger, likely made between 1857 and 1908. You can find the original right here at the Rijksmuseum. What do you see here? Curator: An individual who appears to be confident, and used to authority. I'm drawn to the inscription at the top: "Veritas premitur non opprimitur." "Truth is pressed, not suppressed," or perhaps, "though pressed down, it is not overcome". Given Schomberg’s military history, this motto adds layers of meaning. Editor: Military history is exactly the key. Looking at the metal, the texture the artist has achieved to illustrate a coat of arms and armor—impressive, isn't it? To get this level of detail with an engraving, it must have taken serious skill. And consider the distribution – likely mass-produced and sold for military men, or admirers? The scale makes it suited for a collector's album. Curator: Yes, that's important too. But notice the almost Baroque-era theatricality of the whole image! It harkens back to earlier visual language representing power. Even the font type reinforces a sense of timelessness or, at the least, links Schomberg back to this grand tradition. This specific presentation helps cement the idea of enduring leadership. Editor: I agree, but it's also fascinating to consider what that 'leadership' provided: material wealth and status through battle. Even reproduced in an engraving, this kind of art becomes both commodity and advertisement. Curator: Well, I can't help but appreciate how those swirling baroque lines seem to coalesce around his face, focusing our attention and shaping his perception. Editor: Indeed. And tracing those lines provides clues on production, social context, the status that possessing an artwork like this implied. Food for thought! Curator: Certainly. Each era refracts the symbolism differently, which only shows us that truth, as he states so eloquently, is worth keeping.