Fr. de Coninck 1748 - 1831

Curator: This engraving by J.F. Clemens depicts Fr. de Coninck. Dating from 1748 to 1831, this piece resides here at the SMK. Editor: It's striking how much this image speaks to ideals of stoicism, yet the soft, rounded edges of the engraving technique make it feel approachable. Curator: Absolutely, that balance speaks volumes about Neoclassical portraiture. Consider the circular frame, echoing ancient coins and medallions. This harkens back to the symbolic weight of classical virtue and stoic leadership. The circle is such a self-contained and reassuring motif. Editor: It's fascinating how images of power are curated, even in relatively new republics, and even within supposedly enlightened circles. His position as "Confeiller d'Etat" clearly places him in a sphere of influence and privilege. Curator: Look closer at the subject's gaze: direct, unwavering, embodying both authority and intellect. Notice also the very controlled and dignified styling of his hair and clothing: simplicity communicating virtue. These features were meant to communicate far more than the sitter's literal likeness. Editor: And isn’t there also an element of performativity in the direct gaze, given the social strata it implicitly encodes? I find myself pondering what de Coninck may have chosen not to project. I wonder if those viewing it might also find an invitation to question assumptions around nobility. Curator: Perhaps that inherent duality adds complexity to this man's representation. It invites interpretation, asking the viewer to unpack layers of meaning. It isn't simply a declaration. The viewer adds meaning to this continuity of virtue. Editor: Definitely. We project so much of ourselves, our hopes and biases, onto images of power. I’m struck, though, by the ways those biases have continued to shape society to this day. There's certainly an awful lot to think about with an image like this!