Burger van Parijs 1618

Curator: So, here we have "Burger van Parijs," or "Bourgeois de Paris," a print made around 1618 by Claes Jansz. Visscher, held here at the Rijksmuseum. It’s an engraving of a Parisian citizen, showcasing the fashion of the time. Editor: He certainly has a presence, doesn't he? Strutting like he owns the place, all lace and confidence. I love how the artist uses tight lines to define his silhouette. Makes him pop right out. Curator: Absolutely. Prints like these played a crucial role in disseminating information about social status and fashion. They were, in essence, early forms of mass media, reflecting and reinforcing societal norms. This image emphasizes the upward mobility within the bourgeois class of 17th-century Paris. The height of the hat, for example, denoted status. Editor: Status! Everything screams "Look at me!" from his oversized hat, almost comically tall, to those wonderfully puffed sleeves. I imagine the scratching of Visscher’s pen meticulously documenting every little detail... it's quite mesmerizing. There's something theatrical about it, too—almost like he's posing for a role. Curator: That performative aspect is definitely present. It reveals much about how the bourgeois class presented themselves in the public sphere and also reflects a growing sense of civic pride and self-awareness among Parisians. Remember that fashion, particularly among the upwardly mobile, became a powerful symbol. Editor: I can practically hear him swishing down the cobbled streets. Seriously though, considering it's just ink on paper, Visscher really nailed that feeling of textures and layers. Look at the background, just enough suggestion of space, to keep it from feeling flat. Very evocative, indeed. Curator: It is, and it demonstrates the artist's technical skill in capturing the essence of a person and a place through the printmaking process, effectively placing this figure within a recognizable urban setting. It offered others a look at a new, fashionable urban life. Editor: Well, I’m certainly happy to have met this flashy Parisian bourgeois, even centuries later. His self-assurance leaps right off the page. A tiny window into a bygone world and someone strutting through it like they owned it! Curator: A reminder that even in art, appearances—and their representation—have always mattered. It is a pleasure to delve into this rich world from our 21st-century lens.