Portret van Ferdinand III 1637 - 1676

Curator: Let’s turn our attention to a piece identified as "Portret van Ferdinand III," a work dating sometime between 1637 and 1676, currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Frederik (I) Bouttats is credited as the artist. Editor: It has that old-world gravitas, doesn’t it? Regal, severe. Almost feels like the weight of empires is pressing down on the fellow in the image. Curator: Indeed. Technically, it's an intaglio print on metal, revealing an engraving defined by precise lines. Bouttats captures Ferdinand with the accoutrements of power – the laurel wreath, symbolic garments, sword, and globe, all within a detailed oval frame. We're presented not just with a face, but an embodiment of imperial authority, with close attention paid to his clothing and bearing. Editor: Absolutely, but the shading’s so subtle. The limited contrast somehow makes him appear…human. A little softer than expected, even with the sword. Did they soften the reality or enhance the illusion of power? Was that sword really so pointy, the ornaments so elaborate? What of the weight of that wreath, always worn, never taken off? Is it truth or advertisement? It certainly is fascinating. Curator: I think what is fascinating is the deliberate choice of intaglio, an age-old print technique, and the fact that metal was used as a base. In using this, Bouttats ensures permanence to match Ferdinand's seemingly eternal rule, which I believe captures an aspiration to embody ideals more than merely a truthful, objective portrayal. Editor: It works. Staring into the past never ceases to mesmerize, but in truth, I feel closer to his humanity when I forget who he ruled. The artist captures the eternal tension we see, between strength and vulnerability, image and being. Curator: A thought to leave us with as we proceed through the gallery of other immortal figures and mortal coils.