Portret van predikant Willem de Koning 1791

Editor: We're looking at "Portret van predikant Willem de Koning," a 1791 engraving by Benjamin Samuel Bolomey, housed at the Rijksmuseum. It has a certain… stern formality to it, don't you think? Like a school photo from the 18th century. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, far more than just stern formality! For me, it’s a glimpse into a world of rigid social structures softened by emerging Enlightenment ideals. The Neoclassical frame hints at order and reason, yet his slightly… fleshy features, pardon the pun, and that wonderfully unkempt wig suggest a man grappling with the tensions of his time. What do you make of the inscription below? Editor: It mentions his eloquence and biblical wisdom. A dedication, perhaps? Curator: Indeed! It serves as both eulogy and pronouncement. It situates him not just as a preacher, but as a vessel of divine language. Now, think about the engraving itself as a medium. What impact does it have on the message? Editor: Well, it creates this sense of reproducibility, like disseminating his image and, by extension, his message, more widely. Almost like an early form of… meme-ification, perhaps? Curator: Precisely! Bolomey, I think, intended this image to both commemorate de Koning and democratize his influence. It's a delicate balance of preserving legacy and propagating ideas. Funny you said "meme-ification." Editor: That’s fascinating. I never considered the democratizing aspect. I was so focused on the subject. Curator: It’s often in those overlooked details where history whispers its secrets, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Definitely food for thought. I’ll never look at another portrait the same way. Thanks!