Portret van Johann Simonis 1720 - 1768

Curator: We’re looking at "Portret van Johann Simonis," an engraving by Gottfried August Gründler, made sometime between 1720 and 1768. It’s now part of the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: The overwhelming ornamentation initially suggests formality. The detailed, almost theatrical frame gives way to the surprisingly serene face of the subject. The visual tension immediately strikes me. Curator: It is quite masterful. Notice the contrast in textures. The artist renders the smooth, almost porcelain-like skin of Simonis against the coarse, almost bristly quality of the wig. Observe also how the swirling forms of the frame, typical of the Baroque period, encase the portrait in an elaborate visual language. Editor: Precisely! The Baroque period prized ornamentation. But look beyond this. The book he holds hints at knowledge and perhaps piety. It anchors the visual composition. The wig—the heavy robe—they're not mere status symbols. The represent authority and wisdom of religious or academic standing. He looks as though he could give us quite a stern lecture. Curator: Absolutely. The formal pose is part of the engraving's function. And consider Gründler’s expert use of line to define form and shadow, giving the portrait depth despite its being a monochrome print. Observe the light as it falls across the planes of his face and his collar— a brilliant, almost stark, juxtaposition against the darker fabrics he wears. Editor: But is it only light and shadow? Or might those lines speak of something deeper—the contrast of the enlightenment and the old world? Simonis isn't merely in the frame. The text implies a reverence toward him as both professor and member of the church. Curator: A point well-taken. I agree that it shows great precision to the structure of the piece, but beyond these elements the symbolism evokes powerful notions within its original historical moment. Editor: Indeed. Thinking about how viewers then might have received this portrait—the symbols it holds are key to its enduring resonance. Thank you.