Don Juan van Oostenrijk (1547-1578). Landvoogd der Nederlanden 1560 - 1580

Editor: This is a portrait of Don Juan of Austria, painted sometime between 1560 and 1580, seemingly an oil painting. The level of detail on his armor is quite impressive. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: I am struck by the very *stuff* of this object, from the metallic shimmer of the armor—presumably reflecting a painstaking process of its crafting and adornment—to the paint itself. These portraits weren't just likenesses; they were displays of wealth and power tied to production, materiality, and social standing. Editor: So, you're saying the choice of materials is just as significant as the image itself? Curator: Absolutely. The labor embedded within the creation of that intricate lace collar, the ore mined and forged into that elaborate armor, the pigment grinding… This isn’t just about aesthetic appreciation. It’s about understanding the systems that enabled such objects to exist and the inequalities embedded in those systems. Think of the many anonymous hands involved. Editor: I hadn’t considered it that way before. I was focused on it as a painting, but it’s so much more than that! Curator: Exactly! By analyzing the means of production, we begin to see how seemingly disparate fields – mining, tailoring, art – were intimately connected in early modern Europe. Consider the consumption this object demands - resources, labour, and perhaps above all else, visibility and reputation. Editor: That's fascinating. I guess I'll look at portraits differently from now on. Curator: Good! Always dig beneath the surface. Ask yourself: what kind of material realities support the creation of the portrait? How did societal values inform that production? Editor: This has completely changed my understanding of this painting! Thanks so much!