Erik Klipping 1646

Editor: Here we have a Baroque engraving from 1646 of Erik Klipping, and wow, this feels surprisingly…snarky? It’s definitely not the glorified image of royalty I was expecting. The way the lines are etched makes his expression almost comical. What do you see in it? Curator: Oh, I find the ‘snark,’ as you put it, utterly charming! The artist is making a point, I suspect. History-painting or not, portraiture in print during this period was as much about projecting power as it was about... well, power *struggles*. Is that a slightly-too-small crown perched jauntily on his head? Or the heavy-lidded gaze that could curdle milk? It all feels…deliberate, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely deliberate. Is this artist perhaps commenting on the King's reign, or is it just playing into caricature as a popular style at the time? Curator: Possibly both! Prints allowed for wider dissemination of imagery, political or otherwise. The text itself describes Erik VII, using several titles of reign...it's the type of memorialising statement usually imbued with a noble tone. And look closely, the date '1286' marks his death, yet he is named with the label ‘dictus’...Hmm, a declaration or perhaps, an accusation of a tyrannical king? Or merely a bit of humor poking fun at rulers long gone, now forever imprinted, if not somewhat permanently defaced? Editor: I never would have noticed that. The details definitely give it a modern feel, like political cartoon! Curator: Exactly. See, you were drawn in, beyond just what meets the eye. Which makes us see our history reflected, doesn't it? Editor: Definitely! I appreciate it's dry humor even more now, knowing the cultural and historical implications.