Portret van Joseph Schaitberger 1732 - 1740

Curator: I'd like to direct our attention to this engraving titled, "Portret van Joseph Schaitberger." It’s attributed to Christoph Friedrich Lottes and dates back to sometime between 1732 and 1740. The Rijksmuseum holds this print, created on paper. Editor: It's quite striking. The detail in the face is incredible, given the medium. But the overall tone feels… constrained, almost somber, despite the open posture of the man depicted. Curator: Constrained is a fitting descriptor. We have Schaitberger himself, a leader who was persecuted for his Protestant beliefs in Salzburg. The engraving, besides functioning as a portrait, operates as a piece of political imagery, highlighting Schaitberger’s unwavering faith amidst oppression and reflecting the fraught religious landscape of the time. The surrounding text acts as both description and a commentary on religious freedom. Editor: And how do museums contribute to his image? Consider, the Rijksmuseum itself houses the physical artifacts and symbolic weight of a complex Dutch colonial history often in conflict with tolerance. Putting his image in the museum seems to both valorize Schaitberger and also speak to contemporary sociopolitical forces about image politics. This begs us to ask whose stories get to be told and amplified within institutional spaces. Curator: Indeed. Consider the composition, too. The open book on the table next to Schaitberger emphasizes his scholarship and the significance of religious texts in shaping his identity and actions. It is as if Schaitberger presents himself to us, and presents scripture at the same time, asking that they both be regarded equally. The crowd scene in the background subtly connects his struggles to broader movements. It evokes the imagery of early Christian martyrs. Editor: The open gesture, you mean? It projects an invitation, sure, but also a defense of personal beliefs. This resonates deeply with identity politics still shaping our modern world and suggests a conversation to be had around marginalized and outspoken identities through history. I notice the chair next to him – it’s visually weighty, seemingly more detailed than he himself is. Who sits in the power of a room, in this case? Curator: I think you've rightly touched upon the emotional weight that persists within Schaitberger’s portrait – a struggle both specific to him and, perhaps sadly, eternally universal. Editor: Yes, an artwork made not only from ink and paper, but centuries of continuing fights for freedom. It really makes you wonder about how to honor such legacies going forward.