Portret van Matthias Flacius 1597 - 1599

Curator: What a compelling presence. I feel drawn in immediately. Editor: Indeed! What we have here is a print, specifically an engraving, created between 1597 and 1599. The Rijksmuseum houses this image, known as *Portret van Matthias Flacius,* made by Robert Boissard. Curator: The intensity in his eyes. Is he about to deliver a sermon, or accuse someone of heresy? There's so much contained tension in this man. I detect a sort of…northern suspicion, something held back. It is really intriguing. What can you tell me about his story? Editor: Matthias Flacius Illyricus was a rather fascinating figure of the Reformation era. His name itself gives us a clue. Illyricus suggests his origins in the Balkans, and, importantly, he was a staunch Lutheran theologian known for his role in the Magdeburg Centuries, which was a massive historical work aiming to expose the corruption of the Catholic Church. Curator: Ah, so the accuser in my imagined drama has historical roots! Knowing that certainly changes the viewing experience. It's as if his gaze is meant to dissect and challenge. The book and writing implements further amplify that sense of intellectual warfare. Editor: Exactly. The image becomes more than a mere likeness; it's a statement of identity and purpose. Consider also the details: the framing with the floral ornament, the text that appears on the book. The intention isn’t solely representation. Curator: All carefully designed, creating both the man and the aura around the man. Now it feels like the face of change during very turbulent times. Thanks, this conversation added an entire other dimension for me. Editor: Absolutely! Art like this acts as such a valuable bridge. It opens our present eyes to specific pasts.