Portret van Hippocrates van Kos 1635 - 1702

Editor: This is a rather interesting engraving; “Portret van Hippocrates van Kos,” made sometime between 1635 and 1702 by Pieter Philippe, here on display at the Rijksmuseum. It looks incredibly detailed. Almost photographic, but it is a very idealized image. How do you interpret such a rendering? Curator: Idealized is right! It's less a photograph and more a… let’s say, a carefully constructed advertisement. It evokes the authority of ancient knowledge. Look at the setting: He's writing, surrounded by medical tools. This engraving attempts to legitimize contemporary medical practices by associating them with Hippocrates, you know, as if to say, "See? They were doing it back then too!" It’s almost… branding. Editor: Branding? So, it's not necessarily about historical accuracy, but about creating a narrative? Curator: Precisely! Think about it, engravings were reproducible. They were distributed widely. So the question isn’t whether it looks exactly like Hippocrates, it is about what kind of message is spread by it. I'd also ask: Who commissioned it and who was the target audience for this picture? We see Hippocrates here more like a trademark. Does that sit right with you? Editor: Well, it challenges my initial assumption. I saw this as a window into the past. But now I get that it’s also a mirror reflecting the needs and biases of the 17th century. Curator: Exactly! We're looking at an image made in a certain context. Thinking about it opens a richer view, right? It's more complicated – and that’s the beautiful part. Editor: Definitely gives me a lot to consider. Thanks for your thoughts.