Portret van Jacques Davy Duperron 1600 - 1667

Curator: Standing here at the Rijksmuseum, we have before us a fascinating print entitled "Portret van Jacques Davy Duperron." Created sometime between 1600 and 1667 by Michel Lasne, it's an engraving that captures the likeness of a rather intriguing historical figure. Editor: Wow, he looks intense, doesn't he? His eyes just grab you. Almost like he's peering right into your soul, daring you to look away. And that beard, my god, that is a serious statement. Curator: Indeed! As a print, it belongs to a rich visual culture that shaped perceptions of authority and intellect in 17th-century Europe. Jacques Davy Duperron was a cardinal and diplomat during a period of great religious and political tension. Editor: You can feel that tension just radiating off the page! The stark contrast in the engraving creates this powerful, almost dramatic effect. Like a spotlight on his face against a stormy backdrop—even though there is no backdrop at all. It's just him and the viewer. Curator: Precisely. Portraits such as this one played a key role in constructing and disseminating his image. Notice the elaborate robes and the prominent display of the cross. These were meant to project not just status, but a profound connection to the spiritual and temporal power of the Church. Editor: And it works! But it's also more than just propaganda, right? There's vulnerability there, too, hidden beneath the pomp and circumstance. Maybe it's the slight asymmetry of his eyes or the way his lips are pressed together. It feels like there’s a story being told beyond the official narrative. Curator: I agree. What makes it compelling is the subtle tension between the public image he’s trying to project and the hints of a more complex interiority that the artist has captured. It is very much aligned with the conventions of Baroque portraiture, which favored a sense of dynamism and emotion. Editor: I find it incredible how much emotion and texture Lasne managed to capture using just lines! You could almost reach out and touch that beard, which, to be fair, is one glorious feat. It feels very personal in the artist's hand. Curator: It truly is. Looking at this print today invites us to consider how power and personality intersect and how artists navigated those complex relationships in early modern Europe. Editor: Absolutely. After all, art does have the magic power to help the past feel a bit more alive, a bit more human, don’t you think?