Portret van Regine Sophie Stieler 1676 - 1720

Editor: Here we have a baroque engraving titled "Portret van Regine Sophie Stieler" made sometime between 1676 and 1720 by Johann Alexander Böner. It's intricate, detailed, and definitely has that old engraving style… almost like looking into another time. What strikes you most about it? Curator: Ah, yes, this image takes me back, doesn't it? It's a peek into a world of powdered wigs and courtly graces… There's a stillness about her gaze that hints at inner strength, perhaps even defiance amidst the formality of the period. Do you notice how the surrounding vines contrast with her composed presence? Like life blooming around a carefully cultivated facade, no? It feels incredibly poignant, like the ephemeral nature of youth. Makes me wonder what stories she carried with her. Editor: That's a lovely reading! I was focused on the inscription at the bottom...does that give more insight into Regine Sophie's persona, or her life perhaps? Curator: Precisely! It speaks to a youthful spark. See how it proclaims "Her youth shall never be captured by a paintbrush," an eternal glow immortalised not on canvas but within the copper of the plate, and how meta is that?. And there's an intriguing family crest nestled among the grapes. This piece wasn't just for decoration, was it? It's almost like a mini time capsule, whispering tales across centuries. What do you think that book she clutches symbolizes? Editor: Perhaps a symbol of her learning and accomplishments? Or just her favourite reading material? Curator: Could be. Books in portraits often signified status, education, or a devotion to scripture depending on the context. However, it is the inscription, the book, and her pose, it points me to an allegory of immortality through knowledge, engraved for posterity… Do you get that sense? Editor: I can definitely see that. That's a richer interpretation than what I first assumed. Curator: Art, as you are finding, has many doors and the keys for many open doors, for those seeking the full view of what is going on... Thanks for accompanying me in seeking to open some doors, in a very quick visit here!