Portret van Johannes Lambertus Huber 1795

Editor: Here we have "Portret van Johannes Lambertus Huber," created in 1795 by Jacobus Wijsman. It’s an engraving. I'm immediately struck by its starkness. The fine lines create such a delicate, almost ghostly, presence. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ghostly is a beautiful way to describe it. For me, the engraving feels like a whisper from a very different era. Look closely at the details – the powdered wig, the inscription. It speaks to the age of enlightenment and revolution. A revolution where prints like this could disseminate ideals like… I'm not sure… what is the text underneath saying? "Freedom?" Can you imagine a world where images and ideas were hand-scribed? I think about that weight. Editor: Yes, the text does talk about freedom! I'm so used to instantly sharing images, it’s interesting to think of this as a method for spreading ideas slowly, deliberately. What effect do you think that has? Curator: It’s romantic isn’t it? So many thoughts and decisions must happen with this art form… Each line carries significance. I am moved by how different eras reflect about the very nature of knowledge… We now often consider speed and access, where something is seen once and lost, to be very important. This reminds me to slow down when engaging with information. Does that hit you too? Editor: Definitely! It really makes me think about how we value and consume information today. Curator: Perhaps we should trade our screens for engravings sometimes!