Portret van Godschalck van Halmale 1623 - 1668

Curator: This is a portrait of Godschalck van Halmale, an engraving by Reinier van Persijn, dating from somewhere between 1623 and 1668. It’s part of the Rijksmuseum's collection. The details in the lines are quite impressive. Editor: The immediate impact is one of contained power. It's striking how much the pose and attire broadcast the sitter's status and role in Dutch society during that era, down to that carefully etched heraldic shield below. Curator: Engravings like this weren’t simply about capturing a likeness. Consider the process: the labor of translating a three-dimensional figure into a network of precisely cut lines on a copper plate. The act of replication itself speaks volumes about accessibility of art at the time. Editor: Exactly. Portraits like this one helped cement a certain social order. Notice the details, though – the luxurious fur trim, the style of hair. This engraving isn’t just about Godschalck himself, but about the networks of power and consumption he inhabited, emphasizing patriarchal societal roles, and wealth disparities that shaped Dutch Golden Age. Curator: There's a kind of industrial process involved in creating something like this that often gets overlooked. It’s reproducible and thus could be shared far easier than an original painted portrait. The line work would suggest various tools for the different marks. Editor: Precisely, so to delve into it, consider the political implications of memorializing certain figures over others through such readily disseminated art forms. Also it becomes a study of what the artist sought to idealize within the elite of their day. Curator: By focusing on Persijn's technique and material conditions, we gain insights into the practical realities of art production in 17th-century Netherlands and also, ultimately, this helps us learn more about Godschalck himself. Editor: Thinking about its impact helps us challenge historical narratives and uncover marginalized voices, giving power to what we know about that time in history. I found it really enlightening. Curator: And understanding that reproductive potential changes our perception and relation to it now. Editor: Indeed, what an impactful portrait to discuss today.