De dwerg Madame Sophia Luxuria, ca. 1710 1705 - 1715

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we have a rather intriguing print entitled "De dwerg Madame Sophia Luxuria," created around 1710 by Martin Engelbrecht. It’s an engraving with some hand-applied coloring. Editor: My word, she's got quite the commanding presence, doesn't she? There’s something delightfully satirical about this portrait. Is she stamping her foot in rage? The colour palette seems intentionally bold—reds and golds clashing just so, perhaps reflective of societal unease? Curator: Indeed. What you're picking up on likely relates to the social critique often found within the prints of this period. The caricature would have circulated widely and likely speaks to shifting social structures, anxieties about gender roles, perhaps even poking fun at figures of authority. Note the grenadier hat. Editor: Right, I see. It suggests she may have headed troops of some kind? Which makes her dwarfism even more provocative in this picture. The inscription suggests that her fiery essence will inspire the subjects beneath her. One certainly couldn't overlook the labor involved in crafting these detailed engravings or in coloring the finished product for affluent customers! Curator: Absolutely. It also speaks volumes about access, circulation and reception during the baroque era. Engelbrecht was clearly invested in crafting and distributing objects which captured a social truth in his time. Consider how different segments of society would have engaged. Did it make them ponder or laugh? Editor: Possibly both at the same time? It almost makes me ponder about social critique through memes today. Despite the satire, the subject radiates a particular brand of strength. There is definitely a potent tension between reality and perceived norms woven into the art here. Curator: A wonderfully incisive read on what are so very much material and historical conversations between the classes on power, accessibility, distribution, satire and social norms. It is nice we can use it to continue today.