Portret van Hendrik de Oude after 1661

Curator: Here we have Pieter de Jode the Younger’s "Portret van Hendrik de Oude," or "Portrait of Henry the Elder," created after 1661. It’s an engraving on paper. What strikes you initially about this piece? Editor: There's a somberness that emanates from the portrait—a palpable sense of the weight of history and the burden of power etched onto the subject’s face. The fine lines, a bit like crosshatching almost, definitely bring the melancholy mood out in ways a quick glance might not suggest. Curator: I agree. The engraver’s skill is evident in the meticulously rendered details of the aging Count Henry I of Leuven. His headdress with the small feather and the decorated armor are rendered with considerable precision. Let's consider that Jode created this print several centuries after Henry's death around 1038. Editor: Indeed, and perhaps this temporal distance shapes our perception. It feels almost like a carefully constructed piece of propaganda or historical revisionism. The octagonal frame around the portrait reinforces that feeling of calculated framing and historical representation. Curator: An astute observation. The octagonal border provides a visual containment, guiding the viewer's eye and creating a focused field of attention. Also note the Latin inscription "NON HOSPES AB HOSPITE TVTVS," beneath the portrait. Editor: The inscription adds layers. “Not even a guest is safe from his host” – it is a loaded phrase suggesting betrayal and power struggles within the ruling class. Perhaps an oblique reference to the circumstances surrounding Henry's death. Who did benefit from this propaganda? Who gets to rewrite history in this way? It makes you think. Curator: The inclusion of the coat-of-arms and the epitaphs in both French and Latin serve to underscore his lineage, achievements, and ultimately, his legacy. It's all a symphony of deliberate composition, highlighting key visual elements and the engraving work itself. Editor: Definitely, Pieter de Jode’s engraving does more than merely present an image, it gives the artwork its context. Now I really see what it has to say. Curator: Yes, this artwork masterfully manipulates details and historical context to prompt the viewer to reflect upon the relationship between portraiture, power, and remembrance.