Brustbild eines älteren Mannes (Apostel_) nach rechts 

Curator: Welcome. Here we have “Brustbild eines älteren Mannes (Apostel_) nach rechts”, housed right here in the Städel Museum, an oil on paper painting by Gaspar de Crayer, a Flemish artist. The work is usually classified under the Baroque movement. Editor: Gosh, this fella really feels like he’s peering into my very soul. You can just feel his weight and weariness – he is ancient! There's a kind of haunting vulnerability in that profile. Curator: Absolutely. While undated, this bust of an elderly man is indeed likely to have been produced within the rich artistic and socio-religious context of 17th century Flanders. There was a great desire at the time for a more human understanding of Biblical stories and figures, an effort aided by artists such as Gaspar. Editor: I’m intrigued by the color palette—the subdued earthy tones create a rather somber, intimate experience, a portrait full of emotion, and this man is lit in such a way as to add a divine effect… it makes you wonder about the stories etched into his wrinkles! Curator: And it is exactly this sense of immediacy and empathy which de Crayer masterfully conveys that made paintings like these so relevant, allowing art audiences of the era to connect personally with important and idealized, and therefore somewhat unattainable, religious themes. These pieces, through the very accessible humanity they portray, serve as crucial relics into a critical historical period for both the history of art and religious worship. Editor: Well, considering the museum setting, seeing this old guy makes you also wonder about your own place, how we all become these faces in frames one day. Time...always on the run! Thank you for shedding some light on this emotive face and historical context! Curator: My pleasure. Hopefully this helped our listeners see a different layer of artistic portraiture as they stroll through the gallery.