Portret van Christoph Tucher von Simmelsdorf 1661 - 1676

Editor: So, here we have a portrait titled "Portret van Christoph Tucher von Simmelsdorf," an engraving from somewhere between 1661 and 1676 by Johann Carl von Thill. There's something so intensely historical about this. It really does give that "old-timey" vibe... it's really fascinating. What grabs your attention about it? Curator: "Old-timey," you say? Well, that's a perfect entryway into it! For me, I look beyond the historical subject and try to see through the artist's eyes. This isn't just a record, is it? The engraver, Johann Carl von Thill, he’s not only portraying Christoph Tucher, but a certain level of society, or maybe a social structure of 17th century Nuremberg? What about the Latin text? Do you feel like it brings another meaning to the engraving? Editor: The Latin adds to the feeling of importance. Everything is very detailed, it definitely depicts a man of some status, almost frozen in time. What about the technical side? Is the level of detail typical for engravings from this period? Curator: Good question. Look closely at the varying line weights in the engraving. See how von Thill modulates the pressure, creating light and shadow? The cross-hatching... This level of detail suggests a desire, maybe an aspiration, to capture more than just a likeness. The real question is, are we looking at art imitating life, or life trying to imitate art? Or both? Editor: I hadn’t considered that interplay. Seeing how the artist manipulates line and shadow definitely adds another layer to appreciating the engraving. I’m seeing so much more now, beyond just an "old-timey" portrait! Curator: Precisely. It makes one consider the meaning beyond the surface! Every stroke, choice, every detail is, ultimately, the artist trying to say something through Christoph’s silent image. A ghost in the machine of history, wouldn't you say?