Portret van Lodewijk Alexandre de Bourbon, graaf van Toulouse 1704

Curator: Martin Bernigeroth created this portrait of Louis Alexandre de Bourbon, Count of Toulouse, around 1704. It's an engraving on metal and is currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first thought? Powdered wigs, baby! It’s like looking into a very elaborate cloud. Gives the whole image a sense of theatrical drama, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed. Bernigeroth's portrait captures the height of Baroque portraiture, where image was power. Louis Alexandre, legitimized son of Louis XIV, is carefully positioned within systems of royal representation and militaristic valor. The meticulous detail of the engraving, rendered on metal, contributes to the overall sense of opulence and controlled status. Editor: You said it! But even beyond that political symbolism, isn't there a kind of inherent fragility? The metal engraving—this permanent, seemingly strong medium—rendering such ephemeral fashion, these fleeting symbols of status. And there is something comical to it. Curator: I appreciate that reading. It underlines how the work exists in an interesting tension between capturing power, masculinity, and the material limitations of artistic representation. Think of the legacy of Bourbon absolutism, or what it meant for a “natural” child to climb through court. His dark skin also has an impact on the history of the work. Editor: You're right, and that wig is HUGE. But beyond that, the dark background lends so much importance to the armor itself! Look how Bernigeroth has contrasted it to the swirling backdrop; that metal becomes like liquid mercury. You just can’t peel your eyes away. Curator: A wonderful observation, emphasizing how material choices influence the symbolic potency of this piece. Editor: Exactly! Anyway, I feel like I need a history book... and maybe a giant wig. Curator: And perhaps a more critical view of absolutism? Editor: Fair enough. See you at the next portrait.