Portret van Eberhard von der Recke 1768 - 1817

Curator: Looking at this delicate profile portrait, I’m struck by the sheer precision of the lines. It’s austere yet somehow conveys a sense of personality. Editor: Indeed. The Rijksmuseum holds this print by Johann Heinrich Lips, dating back to between 1768 and 1817. The subject is Eberhard von der Recke. Curator: An engraving, if I'm not mistaken? You can really see the work that would've gone into incising that image onto the metal plate. Each tiny line meticulously carved, then printed onto paper… the labour involved is fascinating. How readily available would paper and metal have been? The work involved almost seems to ennoble the subject, wouldn’t you say? Editor: Precisely. Portraits like these were critical in shaping public perceptions of individuals and projecting power during this period of shifting social structures. It's an interesting decision to depict him in profile, a convention typically reserved for rulers or historical figures. Curator: I find myself thinking about the engraver’s own role. He transforms from artist to craftsman and distributor. There’s such democratization in the distribution of this image—albeit still to a limited, elite audience. Consider the cost and skill of distribution compared to simply sitting for a painted portrait! Editor: And the layering of meaning! Recke held titles such as Minister of Justice. To see his name inscribed so clearly in relation to an ideal, in a neo-classical aesthetic… he is meant to embody those principles. Prints such as this become building blocks of political messaging. Curator: The textures fascinate me, from the smooth face to the detailed wig and the fabrics— all rendered with such controlled lines! To appreciate the raw materials and artistry… I have a heightened appreciation for this “old engraving style." Editor: A wonderful testament to how a seemingly simple image encapsulates both the tangible skill of production and the complex web of social and political contexts of its time. Thank you.