Portret van Nicolaas Hasselaar 1783 - 1795

Curator: This is Reinier Vinkeles' "Portret van Nicolaas Hasselaar", created sometime between 1783 and 1795. The engraving on paper resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It has a restrained elegance to it, doesn't it? That stark monochrome is quite powerful; the oval composition directs the gaze so intensely on Hasselaar’s profile. Curator: Vinkeles was working firmly within a Neoclassical style, prioritizing line and form. But the selection of the paper itself speaks to the economic accessibility of printmaking versus painting. The image was likely widely distributed and reproduced. What does the ability to have relatively inexpensive access to portraits of important citizens do for societal relationships? Editor: It also emphasizes how meticulously Vinkeles manipulated those lines to suggest volume and texture! Note the intricate cross-hatching that defines the shadowed areas and renders Hasselaar's clothing. It's the contrast in tones, creating sharp light-dark gradations, that gives the portrait depth. Curator: And let's consider the labor. This print would likely be reproduced several times. We are seeing labor, not only from the master engraver Vinkeles, but from the press operators who actually make and disseminate these prints. This suggests how portraits circulate in the marketplace and contribute to forging celebrity and reputation during this era. The print and paper itself become objects of trade. Editor: Yes, and framing Hasselaar in an oval and the inclusion of a landscape in the lower rectangle gives a narrative aspect—there are layers. This construction leads the eye vertically down and around, animating a static image. The composition allows the narrative of his likeness to connect to some unconfirmed accomplishment. Curator: Absolutely. While seemingly austere, Vinkeles’ "Portret van Nicolaas Hasselaar" offers a tangible link to 18th-century visual culture. It reflects not only artistic choices, but also the labor practices and systems of dissemination of the day. Editor: Thinking about the engraving, its inherent visual tensions elevate it beyond just a historical record. It gives insight to the essence of its subject and his place in society through skillful manipulations of the visual language.