Portret van Voltaire 1775

Curator: Welcome. We’re looking at Augustin de Saint-Aubin’s "Portret van Voltaire" from 1775, currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. This engraving, exemplifying the Neoclassical style, offers a fascinating glimpse into the visage of the celebrated Enlightenment thinker. Editor: First thought? Intense! Look at that face—it’s like a roadmap of a life lived passionately, maybe a little rebelliously. You can feel the sharp wit and maybe just a hint of world-weariness etched in every line. The wig is doing its best to lighten things up. Curator: Indeed. Saint-Aubin employs a tight, controlled line, typical of the Neoclassical portraiture of the period. Note the emphasis on clarity and precision in rendering Voltaire's features, conforming to the stylistic conventions and values associated with order, reason, and restraint prevalent at the time. The oval frame adds to that feeling of contained order. Editor: Oh, contained for sure. It's like they’re trying to cage his spirit, put a polite, tidy border around all that radical thinking. But those eyes… they still sparkle with mischief. And even in this small print, he’s holding court, isn't he? Notice that little inscription underneath. Very fancy and important. Curator: The text offers a glimpse into the reverence held for Voltaire during his time. Saint-Aubin’s technical mastery in engraving captures not just Voltaire's likeness, but also conveys something of his intellectual stature and the cultural climate of 18th-century France. It invites deeper consideration of history-painting and portrait conventions of this era. Editor: True. Though you almost want to grab some charcoal and do a really raw, messy portrait next to this to express his impact, this feels too… respectful. But it does freeze a moment in time – a powerful writer facing the changing world, just before everything exploded with the revolution. A potent silence. Curator: Ultimately, this print functions as more than a portrait; it serves as a cultural artifact reflecting Enlightenment ideals through Neoclassical aesthetics, masterfully crafted for enduring impact. Editor: Right, this little engraving—with its precision and restraint—becomes a portal, a small window into a world on the cusp of massive change. Thought-provoking and intense.