Portret van Nicolas Catinat 1701 - 1733

Curator: Here we have Martin Bernigeroth’s "Portret van Nicolas Catinat," dating sometime between 1701 and 1733. It’s currently held at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My first impression is one of polished constraint. Even with the baroque style and the armor, the subdued color palette limits the emotion. It's a statement of authority more than of passion. Curator: Precisely. Catinat, a Marshal of France, is presented in a very particular way. Consider the gaze; it's meant to convey stoicism and experience, qualities highly valued in military leadership. The armor and baton are signifiers of his rank, visually cementing his authority. Editor: I find it intriguing that this image, this assertion of power, is rendered in a print—an engraving, a relatively reproducible medium. It makes me think about the labor involved, the etching, the inking… how power gets disseminated through these material processes. And, as a print, it can travel more easily. Curator: Exactly! The print format ensured a wider distribution than a painted portrait, thus expanding Catinat's influence, even after his fall from grace—notice the inscription below the portrait “Der abgesetzte Marschal de Catinat”. It speaks volumes about the politics of image-making and memory in that period. Even disgraced, his image holds power. Editor: And the armor, specifically! Its creation speaks to a vast network of skilled artisans—forging, polishing. We often think of portraiture capturing the individual, but in doing so we sometimes gloss over the industrial web that props them up. This wasn't just about representing Catinat; it involved, perhaps unwittingly, spotlighting the complex material culture around him. Curator: That's insightful. His attire also reflects symbolic power structures; he wears it to embody military authority, which reflects in how Bernigeroth used line and form to capture that era of history and status in the engraving. Editor: Well, seeing it framed by those elements truly helps appreciate its multifaceted impact, and how materials and their applications reflect status and authority. Curator: Agreed. Bernigeroth’s piece, viewed through your lens of material production, invites new avenues to explore.