Portret van Johannes Enschedé 1768

Editor: Here we have Cornelis van Noorde's "Portret van Johannes Enschedé," created in 1768. It’s a print on paper currently held in the Rijksmuseum. It’s monochrome, giving it a timeless, austere feel. How do you interpret this work from a formalist perspective? Curator: Primarily, I’m drawn to the contrasting textures and the formal composition. Notice the interplay between the tightly controlled lines of the engraving and the softer textures implied by the rendering of Enschedé's wig and clothing. It strikes me how the artist achieves depth through line variation and controlled hatching. Are you seeing a conscious structural framework? Editor: Yes, the lines of the bookshelf in the background are much straighter than the softer, more flowing lines used to depict Enschedé’s wig and the drapery. The books form a strong rectangular structure that contrasts well with his rounded features and softer attire. What’s the purpose of such contrasts? Curator: Precisely. These contrasts highlight the subject, grounding him within a context of scholarship and intellectualism. The structural framework almost becomes a cage. The tonal range, while limited by the medium, guides the eye to specific points within the image. Note how light falls on his face and hands, drawing our attention to his gaze and the paper he holds, signifying knowledge and skill. Editor: So the visual language here becomes symbolic itself. The structured elements around him are actually representative, and he emerges as someone in control of it. Fascinating. I never considered approaching this portrait solely through line and form! Curator: By prioritizing intrinsic formal relations, we start to appreciate how all pictorial choices point to a deliberate arrangement that carries meaning irrespective of historical or social narrative. We now see what Van Noorde’s portrait *is*, before it represented a printer in his milieu.