Portret van François Robichon de la Guérinière 1733 - 1755

Editor: Here we have an engraving, "Portret van François Robichon de la Guérinière," made sometime between 1733 and 1755 by Jean Baptiste Guélard. It's a portrait bust inside a very formal oval. Something about the guy’s face makes me think he was pretty full of himself! What do you see here? Curator: Full of himself, perhaps! Or simply a product of his time? Think about it: the Baroque loved its grandeur, its theatricality. It wasn't about humility. Look at the swirling curls of his wig, the elaborate decorations on his coat - everything shouts status and importance. Do you find it oppressive or celebratory? Editor: Hmm, good question. Celebratory, I think. The details are really impressive given it's an engraving. All those tiny lines! I guess I just find the whole "man of importance" thing a bit stuffy. Curator: Stuffy is a good word for it, but consider it in its cultural moment. This image, and engravings like it, was a way to disseminate power. To put it in today's parlance: it was the Baroque version of branding. Now, when you look at it, does it shift your perspective? Editor: A bit, actually. I hadn’t thought of it as a kind of advertisement. It makes the precision and detail even more interesting now. And thinking of it that way helps me appreciate it, beyond my initial judgement. Curator: Exactly! And remember, every line, every curve, contributes to that constructed image. So next time, maybe give the "stuffy" gentleman a chance to sell you his story before you dismiss him entirely! Art's about more than initial impressions. Editor: Point taken! I learned way more than I expected about both Baroque art and my own biases! Thanks.