Portret van Johann Zacharias Platner 1749

Editor: We’re looking at a rather intriguing portrait, an engraving from 1749 of Johann Zacharias Platner by Johann Martin Bernigeroth, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. The fellow seems awfully self-satisfied, doesn't he? It makes me wonder, what do you make of his posture and all the surrounding details, like those books? Curator: Self-satisfied indeed! The Baroque loved a bit of pomp and circumstance. It's a feast for the eyes and minds. His posture is carefully calculated to convey authority and erudition, wouldn't you say? This isn't just about showing what Platner looked like; it’s about establishing his status. Notice the books, the window framing him, and even the elaborate script beneath. It’s all designed to reinforce his importance, even embellish it a little. I would venture a guess that those books could reveal insights into the history and the values placed on knowledge in the era it was produced. Editor: The script beneath – I almost missed it! So, this is like... PR for the 18th century? Curator: Exactly! It’s a carefully constructed image meant to project a specific persona. He wants to be seen as accomplished. Bernigeroth is playing a canny game, not unlike today's carefully constructed social media presences! Don't you find the whole exercise rather ironic? The sitter seems unaware that a future undergraduate would be looking skeptically at this. Editor: It does feel a bit staged now that you point it out. Still, it is a brilliant engraving and snapshot of that time. Curator: It truly is. It's like peeking into a powdered-wig version of LinkedIn! What have we learned, eh? Portraits often whisper more about ambition and societal values than pure physical likeness!