Portret van een onbekende vrouw 1660

Curator: This drawing, from around 1660, is titled "Portret van een onbekende vrouw" which translates to Portrait of an Unknown Woman. The work is by Jan van Troyen. Editor: There's a quiet charm to this portrait, an almost demure sensibility radiating from this unknown woman's features. I immediately want to know the story of this paper and the engraving work that led to it. Curator: That’s interesting! The process behind creating these engraved portraits, popular at the time, often involved collaborative labor within workshops. Van Troyen’s engraving here would have likely involved apprentices or other skilled artisans reproducing his designs. Also, consider the availability and cost of materials, from the paper itself to the inks, factors shaping who could commission or afford such works. Editor: Yes, the societal context is crucial. Engravings like these democratized image-making to some extent, disseminating likenesses beyond painted portraits affordable only to the wealthy. But I wonder, who *was* she? It is displayed at the Rijksmuseum. What social status did sitters have? Was the act of creating the portrait about presenting oneself in a certain way in Dutch society? Curator: Portraits, even engravings like this one, played a key role in constructing and negotiating identity within the social spheres of the era. She appears modestly adorned; the fine rendering would definitely provide status to both sitter and artist. Think of the power dynamics inherent in portraiture! Editor: I suppose that we are both interested in that "making" present here; I am drawn into its impact in 17th century portraiture, while you consider labor! The gaze still makes me wonder… Curator: Absolutely! Ultimately, what survives are these objects laden with complex interactions, all rooted in very concrete production. Thank you, I’ll definitely come back to look at Van Troyen again. Editor: Yes, thank you; those collaborative workshops tell so much about society!