Portret van Gerard Edelinck

This is Nicolas-Étienne Edelinck's "Portret van Gerard Edelinck," a print made sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Here, Nicolas-Étienne depicts his father, Gerard, a celebrated engraver to the King. The portrait captures more than just Gerard's likeness. His elaborate wig and draped clothing speak to status and belonging in the French court. Position, in this era, was quite literally worn on the body, and meticulously constructed through class and gender expectations. Yet, in the intimate act of a son portraying his father, we glimpse something more personal. The gaze is soft, almost melancholic. We are reminded that identities are never fixed, but are always caught in the complex interplay between public performance and private emotion. This portrait leaves us to ponder the multifaceted nature of identity, and the ways in which personal histories are etched into the grand narratives of power.