Christian IV 1646

Curator: Ah, yes, here we have an engraving from 1646 portraying Christian IV, King of Denmark and Norway. An anonymous print, but a fascinating document, isn't it? Editor: My first impression is one of solemnity mixed with something…almost satirical. Look at the size of the nose and how it’s been emphasized with those incredibly delicate cross-hatching marks that suggest light and volume! What a caricature! It is hard to immediately read how serious or unserious to take the work... Curator: That tension you pick up on is exactly what intrigues me. Notice the intricate detail in the armor, contrasted against the flatness of his collar, and how the oval framing device isolates him—a formal rigidity. But within, a human, perhaps flawed, likeness. A king viewed, possibly, through a critical eye? Editor: Right, the circular frame reminds us of those medieval illuminations, yet it's also quite impersonal. I mean, the very precise engraving creates this incredible texture. The engraver has even carved in that slightly curved serif Latin script above his head. What I wonder is who asked him to look this pompous! Curator: It speaks volumes, I think, about the status of royal portraiture in the Baroque era – caught between the demands of representing power and the increasing desire for individual likeness. You know Christian IV, despite his many wars and fiscal policies, was generally well regarded and something of a bon vivant! Editor: True, it humanizes him somehow, even with that incredibly heavy armor and symbolic trappings of monarchy. A bit stuffy for my taste; a fascinating piece for reflecting on that tumultuous period of European history! Curator: Indeed. It allows us to peek not just at a king, but at the society observing him. Thank you for lending your voice to this visual and historical excavation! Editor: Thanks! Until next time…I hope.