Portret van Emma Boissevain - Nicholls 1855 - 1898

Curator: Welcome. We are standing before a print titled "Portret van Emma Boissevain - Nicholls." This piece, crafted sometime between 1855 and 1898, is currently held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. The artist responsible is Friedrich Wilhelm Burmeister. Editor: Oh, she has this steely gaze, doesn't she? It's as if she's staring right through me. The oval frame is a bit much, very ornate compared to her almost severe presence. There is a book near her, but she looks like a general ready for the war. Curator: Indeed. Let’s consider the print's composition. Burmeister’s utilization of chiaroscuro, the interplay of light and shadow, is remarkable. The artist creates depth through subtle gradations of tone and a detailed texture across the sitter’s clothing. What do you make of that interplay of light, especially in relation to historical portraiture? Editor: I think she wanted to project some powerful, confident character, maybe even some subtle kind of dominance. Maybe to prove women can achieve powerful things, considering those old times and prejudice... I imagine the dress, although ornate, looks more somber and subdued due the fact of being a print and black and white artwork. Her pale bonnet and lace are the opposite. I don't know, something in the way her hands rest suggests purposefulness but with class, you know? A life not of just ease. Curator: I find the lack of specific background intriguing, as this choice effectively focuses attention entirely on Emma Boissevain - Nicholls herself, highlighting her physical and, as you put it, psychological presence. Furthermore, the decorative elements framing the central image draw us into the piece in a subtle way. Do you agree? Editor: Definitely, it’s a clever trick! You see all those baroque curls in the frame around her? It's like trying to put her in a pretty little box. But her strength overpowers that—the way Burmeister had her look to us breaks free of the artifice around her. A silent protest perhaps... Curator: A thought-provoking interpretation! As we conclude our discussion, I believe the success of the portrait lies in Burmeister's technical skill. Editor: And it's more than technique—Burmeister captured a spark of defiance, a quiet insistence that is beautiful. It is about this human connection between the past and ourselves.