Portrait of Willem II 1647

Editor: Here we have Gerard van Honthorst's oil on canvas, *Portrait of Willem II*, from 1647. It has such a dreamlike quality, especially with those cherubs floating above the couple. I am curious to hear more about what stands out to you about the piece? Curator: It is important to consider how Honthorst utilizes a restricted, formal composition juxtaposed with an informal setting and these playful figures to explore various binaries, the public/private and the mundane/celestial. We might start with the question of structure: examine the stark contrast between the rigid, almost architectural formality of Willem and the more flowing, relaxed pose of his betrothed. Note also the contrast in surface quality between Willem’s shiny armor and the rich silk of his partner’s gown, highlighted with shadows, the artist sets up a captivating dynamic. How do you interpret the artist's deployment of color? Editor: Well, the use of gold for her gown certainly directs the eye. It suggests wealth and importance. The contrast with Willem’s dark armor further enhances the feeling of tension between the figures. I’d say he feels somewhat subdued and she's more luminous, even hopeful, and those soft tones almost foreshadow a difficult destiny. Curator: Exactly, color creates those dynamic tensions and also resolves them. Think about the architecture of the image; the sharp checkered floor, the classical order behind, it sets off an artful display in tone and gesture which asks us to resolve this dialectic. Editor: That’s such an interesting observation. So, by focusing on the visual relationships and the use of formal elements like composition, color, and texture, we can almost read the narrative of the painting. I find the contrast that is established to be one of the more interesting aspects of this painting, but that's only one layer to the piece. Curator: Indeed. Ultimately, it reveals how even a seemingly straightforward portrait can be a sophisticated investigation into form and its relation to subject.