Portret van Marie-Joseph Savalette de Buchelay 1762

Curator: Here we have Augustin de Saint-Aubin’s 1762 engraving, “Portret van Marie-Joseph Savalette de Buchelay," here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Elegant, isn’t it? There’s a certain severity to the line work that I find rather compelling. Almost stoic in its simplicity. Curator: It certainly speaks to the Neoclassical style that was emerging, mirroring a fascination with classical antiquity and ideals of order, reason, and balance. Note the profile, sharply defined; almost like a coin or cameo. Editor: Exactly! Like they wanted to capture not just a likeness, but a sense of immutable virtue. The bow on top strikes me as a funny touch, though. It's like sticking a party favor on a Roman bust! Curator: More than adornment, it probably represents Marie-Joseph Savalette de Buchelay's connection to a specific order or association, like a civic honor or membership within a scholarly society, perhaps even familial lineage and loyalty. A signifier, adding to the visual coding of his identity and status. Editor: Hmm, that's a richer interpretation. Still, I can’t shake the sense that the bow feels slightly incongruous with the otherwise austere depiction. Is it naive to think it may symbolize an aspect of the portrayed individual's character, their gentle side, adding some humanity? Curator: It may very well hint to a characteristic nuance! The enduring power of the engraved image, of course, lies in its capacity to transmit codified cultural values from one era to another. A permanent imprint. Editor: It does make you think about what it means to immortalize someone—the choices of what to reveal, what to conceal...and of course, what's been completely lost in translation over time. Curator: Indeed. Visual cues which continue to stir speculation. A glimpse of history caught in elegant lines. Editor: Which leads me to consider, perhaps every portrait is, in a sense, a collaborative fiction, wouldn't you agree?