Portret van Johan Arnold Zoutman 1781 - 1816

Editor: This engraving from the Rijksmuseum, "Portret van Johan Arnold Zoutman" made sometime between 1781 and 1816 by Reinier Vinkeles, has such a formal, almost stoic feel to it. What sort of meaning do you think this piece holds, particularly looking at the symbols surrounding Zoutman? Curator: The portrait’s power resides in the symbols chosen to represent Zoutman. Notice how he is framed in a tondo, a circle that itself suggests completeness and perhaps even celestial significance, like a figure enshrined in history. Below, objects alluding to naval prowess speak of duty and power. The cannonballs and related instruments become extensions of Zoutman’s persona. They echo the visual language of baroque history paintings, but pressed into the format of portraiture to ennoble the subject. Editor: I see what you mean about the framing. Do you think it has to do with elevating him to almost mythological status? Curator: Exactly! Consider the maritime background faintly sketched behind him. It connects him directly to the theatre of his achievements. Everything combines to convey a powerful message of strength and leadership. We are subtly reminded of cultural memory – those stories of courage and naval success vital to national identity. Ask yourself, what does it say about a nation when it chooses to depict its heroes in this way? Editor: That makes a lot of sense. The way those symbols combine really does give the portrait more weight and connects it to more than just one man. Thanks, I see the image in a totally different way now. Curator: My pleasure! The enduring presence of such symbols reminds us of our continuing dialogue with the past, and how we continue to negotiate history itself.