Portret van Antoinette Bourignon 1698 - 1769

Editor: Here we have a portrait engraving of Antoinette Bourignon by Gottfried Christian Pingeling, dating to somewhere between 1698 and 1769. The way she's framed in the oval, almost pressed against it, makes me feel a sense of confinement. How do you interpret this work? Curator: That feeling of confinement resonates, and I think it's critical to understanding Bourignon's life and the social context of the piece. She was a fascinating, radical figure. A mystic who challenged established religious and social norms, and her beliefs were pretty controversial. Look at the inscription: even in translation it hints at persecution and hardship. What does that suggest to you about the intent behind this portrait? Editor: I guess it's meant to be a statement about her life and struggles? Curator: Precisely. These engravings were often commissioned or distributed amongst followers. The portrait isn't just a likeness; it's a deliberate construction of an identity. Consider her clothing. Does it present her as conventionally powerful in a social sense, say through expensive finery? Or, perhaps something else? Editor: No, it’s rather modest, almost austere. Curator: Right. Think about how female religious figures at the time often defied traditional gender roles. By rejecting typical displays of wealth and status, and embracing piety, they challenged existing power structures. Her position as an independent intellectual and spiritual leader at the time, meant challenging patriarchal norms. The portrait then is a political statement as much as it is a personal one. Editor: So the simplicity becomes its own form of defiance? I never would have thought of it that way. Thanks for that perspective! Curator: Exactly! Analyzing historical portraits using intersectional narratives opens up avenues into how individuals navigated complex social and political landscapes, claiming agency and power where they could. There's always so much more than meets the eye initially.