Portret van Louise Elisabeth d'Orléans 1746 - 1807

Curator: This portrait, rendered through engraving on paper, is entitled "Portrait of Louise Elisabeth d'Orléans." The artwork, held here at the Rijksmuseum, dates back to between 1746 and 1807 and is attributed to Augustin de Saint-Aubin. Editor: It’s striking how minimalist it is. The fine lines create a delicate air; she seems both present and distant simultaneously. A melancholy feel, would you agree? Curator: The sparseness is indeed a conscious choice, I think. It really echoes the social codes of the aristocracy at the time. Everything from clothing to printed portraiture like this reinforced those carefully managed roles. Editor: Roles being visible wealth and controlled femininity, evident even in the pearls woven into her hairstyle and the subtle adornment at her neckline? Curator: Precisely. Saint-Aubin isn't just capturing likeness; he’s constructing an image that fulfills certain expectations of class and representation. Consider the averted gaze - humility, deference, but also power through holding something back. Editor: So even in this "humble" medium of ink on paper, there’s this loaded presentation of hierarchy and idealized beauty for that particular historical moment. I mean it even says ‘Mademoiselle’ right there, marking status, familial relation... ownership, even? Curator: The printed edition too! Multiple impressions circulated—disseminating these crafted images and reinforcing particular cultural narratives. Editor: Right. I see now. I initially focused on what the portrait seems to be ‘lacking,’ but the absence—or shall we say, the selective presence—is really doing the work here. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: Absolutely. Looking closer reveals how images speak volumes beyond immediate appearances and personal interpretations. It makes you wonder what Louise Elisabeth herself might have thought of it.