Portret van Gottfried I Olearius 1668

Curator: Oh, what a find! This is "Portrait of Gottfried I Olearius," an engraving created in 1668 by Johann Alexander Böner, currently residing here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It’s funny, seeing this now. I imagine his study must have been lit solely by candlelight. The whole thing has such a soft glow despite the meticulous line work. Almost ethereal! Curator: It’s very characteristic of Baroque portraiture – the emphasis was often less on strict realism and more about projecting a sense of authority and… I don't know, gravitas. Editor: You definitely nailed it. The wispy beard and flowing hair framed by the leaves really drives that feeling home. There's almost something fairytale-like about it. I am also drawn in by the book he's holding – any clues what this could refer to? Curator: His accomplishments no doubt! Olearius was a theologian, a doctor, and Superintendent of the church in Halle so probably something of significance! Prints like these played a vital role in circulating images and ideas back then, particularly amongst the learned elite. Think of it as 17th-century social media for academics! Editor: Ah, interesting! So, this wasn’t just a likeness; it was a statement. "Here's Olearius: intellectual powerhouse, spiritual leader…available for branding opportunities." Just a tad different from today’s Instagram, wouldn't you say? Curator: (laughs) Quite! But seriously, it reinforces the power dynamics. Look at the detail, the text elaborating on his titles. Engravings like this were instruments of power, meant to impress upon viewers the subject's status and legacy. Editor: Well, the texture alone gets me… running my fingers over that paper – if I could. Makes me think about him as a person. The world they existed in; full of heavy fabrics, of dense, academic thinking, which Böner and Olearius communicate masterfully. Curator: Indeed, looking at this engraving offers a very potent look into a world obsessed with titles, knowledge, and public image, but one struggling toward new freedoms in thought and religion. Editor: I like that! An image caught in transition!