Portret van Karel IV, hertog van Lotharingen 1642 - 1694

Curator: This engraving, currently housed at the Rijksmuseum, is a portrait of Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine, made sometime between 1642 and 1694 by Nicolas de Larmessin. Editor: It's an intriguing image. The oval frame gives it a formal feel, yet there's a certain… theatricality in the pose, wouldn't you say? The light seems to focus on his face and that ornate collar. Curator: Absolutely. The Duke's status is proclaimed through very deliberate costuming, specifically, what appears to be an intricately rendered suit of armour beneath a decorative collar. These were obviously potent signifiers of power in the period, reinforcing societal expectations of masculinity and leadership through dress and image. Editor: The contrast between the heavy armour and the delicate lace is striking. Visually, the artist manages to convey a sense of both strength and refinement. Also the intricate detail, typical of baroque, lends the artwork a dynamic tension despite its stillness. I mean, observe how the composition is almost entirely monochromatic but full of layered tones, built purely from line work. Curator: It prompts questions about performance. What narratives around leadership are presented? What elements might contradict these imposed ideals, hinting instead towards vulnerability? I find it equally intriguing that there’s textual narrative inscribed below the portrait in baroque script, which seems to highlight his lineage through his relationships to powerful women. Editor: That's a good point. Without that text, we might solely interpret it as a presentation of male authority, however, this script is a crucial paratext—almost acting as a subtle acknowledgement that female relatives hold immense significance in his social identity. Curator: Indeed. Perhaps this was intended to offset possible concerns over succession by emphasizing the importance of female relatives, particularly in legitimizing rule during this time. Editor: Ultimately, I think the engraving prompts us to look beyond face value at a powerful leader and into the constructed visual languages of power and influence during the Baroque era. Curator: Yes, it serves as a lens through which we can question the very narratives that have shaped our understanding of authority.