Portret van Albrecht, aartshertog van Oostenrijk 1620

Curator: Here we have a print from 1620, “Portret van Albrecht, aartshertog van Oostenrijk,” or “Portrait of Albert, Archduke of Austria,” to put it simply. It is anonymous. Editor: I am immediately struck by how... constricting this feels. Look at that enormous ruff, practically a cage around his head. And the stern, almost pinched expression… there’s such a sense of formality, duty. Curator: Well, that's certainly part of the performance of power in the Baroque era, wouldn’t you say? That ruff is indeed a symbolic barrier, setting him apart, elevating him. But, also, it points to ideas around purity of heart and truth. The austerity gives a sense of seriousness to the office held. Editor: And notice the Latin inscription encircling him! *Serenissimus Albertus Archidux Austriae, Dux Burgundiae, Princeps et Dominus Belgarium* . Grand titles carefully placed there. Curator: Absolutely. Albrecht, as the Archduke, held a very particular position between religion and politics in his role of governing the Netherlands on behalf of the Spanish Crown. A very precarious one, which also shows here! Editor: And yet, look closer, and the artistry softens the image. The meticulous lines of the engraving, the shading that gives depth to his face—there’s vulnerability in his eyes. Those fine lines suggest he understands more than the rigid portrait might suggest. It's that sliver of humanity peeking through, defying the official image. Curator: I find it very compelling! Printmaking at this time was more than mere replication; it was a way to immortalize and disseminate an image but also, for Albrecht to exert soft power through the projection of majesty. In his portraits he tried very hard to craft his image as an enlightened ruler! He had big issues to address, in particular peace after a very protracted period of rebellions, so image was incredibly important. Editor: I suppose. While the details pull me in, there's still a level of distance I feel looking at the final result. The sheer act of framing him in an oval of text... He remains resolutely *over there*, beyond reach. A reminder that Albrecht remains in the text surrounding him, a grand but fixed and unreachable ideal. Curator: I understand. For me, Albrecht in print represents the complexities inherent in trying to solidify legacy. Editor: Ultimately, what seems to live on the other side of time is, perhaps ironically, this quiet record of tension itself.