Portret van Isabella van Asturië 1549 - 1577

Curator: Let’s take a moment with this engraving. It's entitled “Portret van Isabella van Asturië,” dating somewhere between 1549 and 1577. What's particularly interesting is the mystery—the artist remains anonymous. Editor: There's a strange serenity about it. It’s almost as if she's trapped—the severe lines and dark shading giving off an eerie and melancholic vibe. What about you? What’s your immediate feeling? Curator: That stillness, as you say, reminds me of early Renaissance portraits where the sitter seems suspended, a sort of idealized version, maybe slightly lifeless, and the precise engraving enhances that sense. What catches my eye is the detailed hatching used to render the folds of her clothing and hood. Editor: Precisely. The weight of the fabric, visually heavy and all-encompassing. Considering her attire, almost monastic in style, could be laden with significant meaning and possibly alluding to more. Is this intended for wider circulation or restricted viewing? What does this representation portray in that context? Curator: That’s intriguing. Given it’s an engraving, likely intended for broader circulation and perhaps reproduction in books or pamphlets, it would serve a specific purpose: reinforcing Isabella’s image as pious, modest and virtuous, reflecting perhaps the role of women in her family, or maybe masking some darker realities… Editor: And those tiny, cherubic faces in the corners feel oddly out of place amidst such austerity. Perhaps a faint glimmer of hope or playful interruption in what would be another tragic depiction of the queen. Curator: Or perhaps simply ornamentation. Yet the way they’re positioned, gazing almost directly at her, does add an intriguing layer. I'm left pondering the complexities hidden beneath the surface, much like Isabella herself, probably. Editor: Right? A haunting portrait, demanding us to not simply see, but to truly consider what remains unspoken within those rigid lines. Curator: Indeed. And now I wonder, how would Isabella perceive the view that we currently hold about her portrait.