Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve 1665 - 1670

Curator: This engraving of Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve… there’s a touch of melancholy there, don’t you think? Like a storm cloud trying to break through the official portrait. Editor: This is "Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve," a print made by Albert Haelwegh sometime between 1665 and 1670. It definitely has a serious, almost somber feeling. All that text framing the image makes it feel pretty dense too. What jumps out at you when you look at this portrait? Curator: That density *is* part of the picture, isn’t it? Like life pressing in. It makes me wonder what stories that stern face could tell. Look closely—do you see the way the engraver captures the textures? The velvet cloak, the fur trim… they practically invite you to touch them, but that unsmiling expression holds you back. A little like a king surveying his domain. Editor: Definitely, that contrast between inviting textures and a severe gaze is interesting. It makes me think about power and representation, and how people wanted to be seen back then. Does the Latin text around the portrait tell us more about his role? Curator: Absolutely, the inscriptions around the image offer insights. "Aurant Regis per Norvegiam Vicarius” basically shouts, “Deputy King of Norway." In his own words, what do you imagine would Gyldenløve say of his service to the crown, successes, or his concerns? I wonder if he felt trapped by those titles. Editor: Hmmm, interesting, to think about his potential inner conflicts when we just see an image of officialdom! It seems a pretty elaborate image for its time. Curator: These early prints weren't just art; they were a form of social media. Imagine sending this out as a status update! What strikes me now is the lasting power of portraiture to evoke questions about who we are and who we perform ourselves to be. Editor: I see what you mean, a way of broadcasting power and status that still speaks to us centuries later. Thanks for shedding light on this, it made me appreciate what an amazing thing it is, to try and catch a real person through art!