Antoine Lemaistre c. 17th century

Curator: Looking at this rather somber engraving, "Antoine Lemaistre," made by Jacques Lubin, I can't help but wonder about the social expectations tied to portraiture during Lubin's time. Editor: Right? The guy looks like he's bracing himself for a tax audit. It’s as if his soul has taken a vow of silence. You can tell he is not happy. Curator: Well, Lubin created this image to circulate within a very specific intellectual and social sphere. An advocate in Parliament, the historical Lemaistre likely commissioned this to project an image of seriousness and respectability. Editor: It works! The framing oval and heraldic crest give it a definite air of, "Yes, I'm important." But I wonder what Lemaistre was really like. Was he all business, or did he ever crack a smile? What was he hiding? Curator: Perhaps he was just aware of the weight of representation. As it still happens today, this engraving was not only a depiction but a carefully constructed piece of social currency. Editor: Maybe so. Either way, I'm glad we can still dig beneath the surface, even centuries later.