Portret van Johann Adam Hiller 1752 - 1803

Editor: This is "Portret van Johann Adam Hiller", made sometime between 1752 and 1803 by Christian Gottlieb Geyser. It's an engraving on paper. The formality of the portrait—the oval frame, the inscription—makes me wonder about Hiller's status. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, yes. A portal to a powdered-wig past, wouldn't you say? It's as if Geyser wasn't just capturing a likeness, but embalming a sliver of societal ego. It whispers of candlelight operas and composers who doubled as cultural gatekeepers. The detail in the engraving itself, so meticulous, right? Doesn't it feel almost… performative, like the portrait is staging itself for posterity? Editor: Performative—I like that! The little bow at the top of the frame is a particularly interesting touch. Curator: The bow! Exactly. It’s not just decoration, it's a flourish. A theatrical aside. Do you think it's winking at us from across the centuries, almost mocking the solemnity it’s framing? Like "Yes, I'm important, but don't take me *too* seriously." Editor: It's funny, now I almost feel like the portrait is making fun of *me* for taking it too seriously. I initially just saw a stern historical figure! Curator: Which is exactly where the brilliance of art lies, wouldn't you agree? It lures you in with what you expect, and then playfully nudges you to see beyond. Editor: Absolutely. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: My pleasure. Perhaps it is in fact our perception, the modern gaze that grants the most expressive brushstrokes.