Old Man with Beard and Flat Cap, after Rembrandt 1765

Editor: Here we have "Old Man with Beard and Flat Cap, after Rembrandt", a print by Captain William E. Baillie, created around 1765, using etching. The detail in this etching is impressive! There is so much texture in the man's beard. What strikes you most about this work? Curator: Well, seeing "after Rembrandt" immediately brings to mind issues of artistic appropriation and the changing value placed on originality. Consider how Baillie, a military man, engaged with Rembrandt’s iconic imagery. Was this simply an act of admiration, or did it serve a different socio-political function, perhaps asserting a claim to artistic tradition and prestige? Editor: That's interesting; I wouldn't have thought about it in those terms. So, you're suggesting Baillie's motivations went beyond just artistic appreciation? Curator: Precisely. Etchings, particularly portraits, served a crucial role in shaping public perception of identity and status. The art market was increasingly fascinated by “Old Masters," and Baillie directly positions himself within that lineage. Do you notice anything about how the work emulates but also deviates from Rembrandt’s style? Editor: I see a certain stiffness in Baillie's work compared to what I know of Rembrandt's etchings; his have such a liveliness. I suppose this could point to Baillie having been not as skilled or perhaps having consciously changed certain details? Curator: Exactly! Baillie smooths out some of the rougher edges. Ask yourself, what might this 'smoothing' achieve? Does it make the image more palatable to a specific audience, or reinforce certain ideals about masculinity and age? Editor: It certainly creates a more idealized, perhaps less confrontational, image. Thank you; thinking about this work as an active dialogue with artistic and social history has been enlightening! Curator: And for me it's rewarding to consider how artistic production actively shapes cultural narratives and power dynamics. We see here it goes beyond simple mimicry!