Portret van Georg Kilian 1770

Curator: This print, a portrait of Georg Kilian from 1770, has a wonderful quality of directness. There’s something so charmingly old-world about the details rendered in engraving. Look closely; what strikes you first? Editor: Well, "Portret van Georg Kilian," an engraving from 1770, definitely has that sort of old engraving feel! At first glance, I’m intrigued by how present he seems. He’s holding a drawing, and seems quite alert. What do you see in it? Curator: Alert, yes, but also at ease! As if interrupted during his craft. This is more than just a picture; it is a meditation on creativity, on the moment of inspiration itself. See how the lines suggest light both defines and softens his features. He has lineage you can read on his face and in the text on the print below. Do you think that the way he's presenting himself matches the style? Editor: That’s a good question; I think the clothing aligns to his craft as an engraver! What strikes me is the document below: the Kilian family were metalworkers who moved from Silesia to Augsburg and then appear to pass down craftmaking for generations. Curator: Exactly! It tells a story of artistic lineage. This image operates on so many levels: skill, creativity and his lineage, as if to remind us of our connection to the past, influencing the future. He exists on the cusp of modernity – powdered wig, and then – BAM – agency over his own depiction! How does knowing all that make you feel about it? Editor: I find it empowering that a mere image holds so much context. Before it felt flat but with understanding of the artist it becomes quite rich in character! Curator: Yes, absolutely! Isn't it amazing how a deeper dive into a piece, into the artist’s story and the culture from which they sprang, just makes it resonate so much more?