Portret van Georg Melchior von Ludolf 1722

Curator: This is Johann Martin Bernigeroth’s "Portret van Georg Melchior von Ludolf", made in 1722. It's a baroque engraving printed on paper, held here at the Rijksmuseum. What catches your eye first? Editor: That wig! It's the Platonic ideal of Baroque hair, an absolute cloud of curls. It gives him this almost… lunar presence, all cool tones and reserved formality. Curator: It's the portrait of a man in a very particular role. Georg Melchior von Ludolf, Imperial Camera Assessor – quite a mouthful. Those positions always demanded such… presentation. Do you think the wig signifies more than status? Editor: Oh, absolutely. It's a carefully constructed symbol of power and learning. In his wig, he isn't merely a man; he's an embodiment of his office. It reminds me of theatrical masks worn in antiquity. The mask conceals while simultaneously projecting an image of authority. It removes the personal. Curator: You know, looking closely at the engraving, the texture created by all those tiny lines makes me think about the nature of portraiture itself. This isn't simply capturing a likeness; it’s a meticulous reconstruction. Bernigeroth isn't showing us Ludolf; he’s showing us the idea of Ludolf. Editor: And it works! The whole composition leads the eye. From the precise lettering at the bottom identifying the sitter and his titles, up through the detailed fabric of his robes, and finally settling on that face, framed by the almost otherworldly halo of hair. He is unreadable and yet we understand exactly who he is, or rather who he represents himself to be. Curator: It makes you wonder about the man beneath the image, doesn't it? The tiny imperfections that never make it into the official record. It feels sad. Editor: Perhaps. Or maybe it's the ultimate act of self-creation. Stepping into the symbolic weight of the time. In the end, that might be the most honest portrait of all. What we chose to show is who we are, as much as what we try to hide. Curator: Food for thought! What better thing to leave with?