Portret van Jacob Ernst Friedrich Berlin Possibly 1805 - 1808

Editor: This is a print titled "Portret van Jacob Ernst Friedrich Berlin," possibly from between 1805 and 1808. It's an engraving on paper by Eberhard Siegfried Henne, housed in the Rijksmuseum. It has this rather formal, stately feel with the subject in a portrait medallion framed by draped curtains. What story do you think this artwork tells? Curator: The story it tells is of the consolidation of bourgeois power in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Consider the neoclassical style – the pillar, the inscription dedicating the work to "the best father". This isn't just a portrait, it's a statement about patriarchy and familial legacy. Who gets commemorated like this, and why? The restrained formality speaks volumes about the values being promoted by the rising middle class, emphasizing order, reason, and a carefully constructed image of respectability. How might this connect with larger social shifts of the time? Editor: So, it's less about the individual and more about the role they represent in society? The “best father” epithet, combined with the date – close to the French Revolution – makes me wonder if there's an element of upholding tradition in the face of societal upheaval. Curator: Precisely! It’s about upholding a specific image of masculinity and familial structure amidst the challenges to traditional hierarchies. And don't forget the colonial context. Wealth that afforded these portraits often derived from exploitative systems. So, whose stories are not being told, and whose are being valorized through images like these? Editor: That is a fascinating way to look at this portrait! Thank you. I'll definitely keep this context in mind going forward. Curator: My pleasure. Always question what power dynamics are at play. Keep digging!