Portret van Joannes Boelensz 1638 - 1658

Editor: This is a rather striking portrait of Joannes Boelensz, an engraving by Cornelis Visscher dating sometime between 1638 and 1658. It’s currently at the Rijksmuseum. It feels…serious, almost severe. What do you see in this piece, beyond just a depiction of a man? Curator: "Beyond depiction," you say. That’s lovely because the beauty of these old engraved portraits really lies in seeing *through* them, doesn't it? For me, there's a palpable sense of inner contemplation. It's like the artist, Visscher, isn’t just rendering Boelensz’s features; he’s trying to capture his essence. Editor: His essence? How so? Curator: Look at the way the lines aren’t just descriptive but also atmospheric. The shading around the eyes, the set of his jaw – it suggests a weight of responsibility, of deep thought, wouldn't you say? He’s not merely posing; he’s *being*. And that hand upon his chest... It speaks of sincerity, or at least a desire to project such a virtue, eh? Think, what was expected of religious figures then, what virtues would they want emblazoned for posterity. What do *you* see in that gesture? Editor: I see…humility, maybe? And the crucifix visible in the background also makes it hard not to associate the hand-on-chest gesture with a sign of piety. Curator: Precisely! Context, you see, amplifies meaning. Visscher knew his audience and their visual vocabulary. It makes one wonder what Joannes Boelensz actually felt inside, and that gap between reality and projected image... well, that's where art truly lives, don’t you agree? Editor: Definitely gives me a new perspective. I was just seeing an old picture, but now I'm wondering about the story it *doesn't* tell.