Portret van Marcus Dornblüth 1715 - 1748

Curator: Well, hello there! Let’s turn our attention to this compelling portrait, currently residing here at the Rijksmuseum. This engraving, dating from between 1715 and 1748, captures the likeness of Marcus Dornblüth. The artwork is simply titled "Portret van Marcus Dornblüth." Editor: Oh, my! He looks quite stern. Like someone just told him they'd run out of his favorite wine. The swirls of his wig against that draped background...it's a stage setting, isn't it? As though he's performing being important. Curator: Exactly! These portraits functioned within a complex economy of image-making. Consider the labor involved in producing these engravings. From the engraver’s meticulous work to the printing process itself, it reflects the developing industry and how identity and power were commodified through images like this. Think of how many prints were made and distributed. Editor: Right, turning Marcus into a brand! I wonder what Dornblüth himself thought of all this fuss. Does it feel empowering or deeply strange to see yourself multiplied and circulated? I feel that odd mixture when I see my selfie shared across networks... a ghost of myself taking on its own separate existence. Curator: The social context is also interesting; notice the inscription, designating him as counselor of Poland and Saxony, suggesting the portrait had diplomatic functions. The symbolic framework constructed a persona designed to communicate wealth and authority, intended for a very particular type of audience who appreciated this visual language of power. Editor: That ornamental oval frame he’s peering out of – it's not just decorative, it's saying "Look, here's the box you can put me in!" As if power can be so neatly packaged. The texture achieved through the engraving feels... deliberate. Cold. Curator: Yes, it's a carefully constructed visual declaration, tied to economic and social processes of production. It highlights not just his individual face, but the broader operations of power. Editor: Thinking of Marcus in his frame now, I feel a touch of melancholy... Power might make for an impressive show, but underneath those layers of crafted visual messaging is still a person, with all their quirks and insecurities. Curator: Yes, and appreciating the artwork entails reflecting on both that created persona and the forces constructing it. Editor: A perfect echo through time! The human and the apparatus...Thanks!