Portret van Johann, aartshertog van Oostenrijk 1832 - 1873

Editor: So, this is "Portrait of Johann, Archduke of Austria," dating somewhere between 1832 and 1873. It’s an engraving by Albert Teichel, held here at the Rijksmuseum. It feels very…dignified, I suppose? What strikes you most about this piece? Curator: Dignified is spot on, though I feel there's a weariness there too, etched in the lines around his eyes. Do you notice how Teichel has positioned Johann? Not as a figure of immense power looming over us, but almost at our level, seated. It's an intimate take for a formal portrait, wouldn’t you agree? And then there's the curtain behind him… it frames him, almost theatrical, drawing all focus right onto his face. What sort of man do you imagine he was? Editor: I suppose I hadn't really thought of it as intimate, but I see what you mean about his eyes. And the way he's sitting—sort of relaxed, not stiff at all. Given the turbulent times in Austria then, perhaps this was meant to portray him as more accessible to the people? Curator: Exactly! Think of this portrait as a sort of propaganda, carefully curated to craft a certain image. It is also possible to consider the broader historical context in Austria during that time, full of revolutions and political change. He appears solid, someone to rely on, not like a distant emperor sitting high on his throne. Isn't it fascinating how much a seemingly simple portrait can convey? Editor: It really is. I never thought about portraits being "propaganda," but it makes perfect sense. Looking closer now, it almost feels like a very carefully staged photo opportunity. Curator: Precisely. Consider, then, what remains "unsaid" but subtly suggested in the print. As artists, as people… we often express ourselves in silence too, isn't it so? A final thought—this reminds me of one of Oscar Wilde's best lines. Editor: Which is…? Curator: "Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter." Editor: Wow. Gives you a whole new perspective on portraiture, doesn't it? Thanks!