Portret van Louis Gabriël James 1845 - 1865

Editor: We’re looking at "Portret van Louis Gabriël James," an engraving from sometime between 1845 and 1865, residing here at the Rijksmuseum. It's this wonderfully precise image. The sitter appears contemplative. I’m immediately struck by how formal the portrait is, and the old engraving style gives it this somber air. What captures your attention when you look at this piece? Curator: You know, what jumps out at me isn't the formality, though that’s certainly present. For me, it’s the sheer, quiet *presence* of the sitter. He is completely self-contained, the book offering perhaps both solace and insight. Engravings have this wonderful, almost ghostly way of capturing details… notice the way the light reflects off his face. But also consider that for someone to commission, or sit for, this kind of work? It says, "I am of a certain status." The weight of that! Does that feeling land for you at all? Editor: Absolutely! I see what you mean about the status. It's not just a face; it's a statement. So, thinking about engravings, what were some of the influences to create pieces like these? Curator: Influence is such a tricky word, isn't it? We imagine art popping fully formed from a forehead! Instead, it is about tradition. The tradition of realism is right here, grounded in what one actually sees, then translated meticulously onto the copper plate and pulled to paper. But it has always struck me, those long sittings to make an engraving... it captures time, doesn't it? An endurance and intention to make art, something that digital work, for instance, can never really compete with! Editor: That's so true; this has made me see beyond the formal surface! Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. Sometimes the best journeys are the ones that change our starting point.