Portret van Karel IX, koning van Frankrijk 1598

Curator: Today, we're looking at a print housed here at the Rijksmuseum titled "Portret van Karel IX, koning van Frankrijk," or "Portrait of Charles IX, King of France," made in 1598 by Jost Amman. Editor: It strikes me immediately as a somewhat bleak piece. The textures are incredibly dense, a network of tiny lines, almost claustrophobic, really amplifying the stern face of the sitter, doesn't it? Curator: Yes, notice the Northern Renaissance style. Amman used pen and ink to create an engraving that meticulously captures Charles IX's likeness within a decorative frame. If you look closer, you'll find that the ornamental components include figurative motifs above the portrait and what seems like biblical scenes in the plinth underneath the king. Editor: I find myself gravitating to the material reality of printmaking here. Consider the labor: the carving of the block, the inking, the pressing. There’s also the interesting dissemination of this royal image to the public, thinking about the paper used, how it would’ve been consumed. Was it widely distributed, collected, or pasted on walls? These practical details reveal much about power, influence, and reception. Curator: Precisely. The print operates on multiple symbolic levels. The portrait itself establishes the authority of the king, the circular framing suggests completeness and eternal rule, while the lower allegorical images introduce interpretive narrative layers – perhaps alluding to events of his reign. Semiotics can reveal more than just aesthetics. Editor: Absolutely, and if we focus on the making and reception of the piece, it tells another story entirely. A complex interchange between skill, labour, historical record and propaganda all in one printed sheet of paper, that speaks volumes about material culture during that period. Curator: An exquisite microcosm. It reflects the confluence of portraiture, symbolism, and the history it encapsulates, a moment in time made durable by ink. Editor: Yes, I will certainly leave thinking about more than just kings when faced with engravings from this era. The materials used to disseminate this propaganda are interesting as well.