Portret van Johann Baptist Fabricius 1648 - 1663

Curator: We're looking at a 17th-century engraving. Specifically, this is "Portret van Johann Baptist Fabricius" created sometime between 1648 and 1663. The engraver was Johann Pfann. Editor: The formality of the ruffled collar, and the sharp contrast of light and shadow in the portrait contribute to the somber tone of the engraving. His small book seems significant but what does it symbolize, knowledge or perhaps even restraint? Curator: The book held by Fabricius is a very clever rhetorical element that brings up the contrast between the spiritual and the cerebral. Considering its size and placement, its role as an anchor in his spiritual and intellectual being appears almost to become structural. Editor: In that era, engravings disseminated images widely, extending their impact to broader audiences and shaping perceptions beyond the elite. His access to portraiture and commissioned art suggests something about Fabricius’ own social standing and power. Do we know if it served more broadly as social messaging? Curator: Indeed, engravings provided wider access to art but there’s more to unpack when interpreting that imagery. Look closely at how the text that encircles the oval adds another layer. The interplay between portraiture and textual elements serves to highlight both his likeness and his attributes, in a classical rhetorical technique of building credibility, ethos. Editor: The text really gives depth to his position and is very illuminating: considering the Reformation was such a significant turning point during this era in religion and political life in Europe, did the writings add something different? Perhaps communicating his specific learnings within arithmetic? Curator: Absolutely, given Fabricius’ association with arithmetic as noted within the oval text. Furthermore, look beneath his portrait and consider the layers being carefully laid on top of the original subject in these careful scriptions. Each careful deliberate stroke, reveals just how important was to build legacy through art. Editor: These deliberate attempts for artists and scholars of this area underscores our reliance of history’s influence in art as we find new approaches and how deeply are woven within our collective memory. Thank you for sharing. Curator: My pleasure, every opportunity we have to reinterpret images through this collaborative discourse is another chance for mutual education.