Portret van Charlotte Corday 1801 - 1834

Curator: This intaglio print, currently held at the Rijksmuseum, is a portrait of Charlotte Corday. Friedrich Fleischmann created this rendering of her sometime between 1801 and 1834. It embodies the Neoclassical style. Editor: There’s a quiet intensity about her, don't you think? It’s like she's holding a secret, a decision. I'm immediately drawn to the delicate ruffles and how they contrast with the severe gaze. The monochrome gives it a historical gravity. Curator: The choice of intaglio really heightens the sense of drama and precision here. In terms of its historical context, Corday was, of course, a figure who assassinated Jean-Paul Marat during the French Revolution. Editor: Ah, the 'Angel of Assassination'. Is it just me, or does the rendering almost soften the complexities of the role she played in those revolutionary times? She looks more like she's waiting for a dance than having just committed a political act with huge impact. Curator: Well, Fleischmann, through the lens of Neoclassicism, aimed to portray a certain kind of virtue and order. The sharp lines of the architecture visible in the background and her very composed posture really speaks to this idea. Some have said he romanticizes her legacy. It invites reflection on women's roles in revolutionary periods. How are their stories framed or, perhaps, sanitized? Editor: True. The crisp monochrome almost makes it look clinical. It strips away some of the visceral horror that would have been present. Thinking of those heavy drapes by the window – are they a visual symbol for secrets kept, opportunities that lay waiting, or… am I reading too much into it? Curator: Interpretation is key! Her gaze demands we delve deeper. Her placement in the historical record needs interrogation beyond simple binaries. Editor: I'm certainly pondering this with fresh eyes now. Art continues to do what it should— provoke new perspectives and invite dialogues, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Absolutely! Art provides the perfect opportunity to have the tough discussions.