Portret van Louisa Lennox 1759 - 1765

Curator: What a study in understated elegance. We’re looking at “Portret van Louisa Lennox,” a baroque engraving from around 1759-1765 by James McArdell. Editor: My first thought? That puppy steals the show! The sheer concentrated intensity of that little face. It's like he's judging my very soul. Curator: It does have a certain presence, doesn't it? Beyond a charming lapdog, it's a potent symbol of loyalty, fidelity, even domestic harmony. Think of it as an emblem, almost like a heraldic crest, quietly reinforcing Louisa’s virtue. Editor: Yes, I see your point about the dog as an emblem, but there’s a curious dynamic at play with its position. It peers out from behind a barrier, sharing the foreground space almost as if a portrait within a portrait. Do you feel like its location challenges her status? Curator: A lovely question! Considering its intimate proximity and the softness with which the subject engages with it, the portrait establishes the significance of emotion. In contrast to what we could call its official value, the little beast opens it to human experience and emotion, and serves to connect it with the viewer. Editor: Right! It grounds her. Her clothing is so incredibly intricate and elaborate and then boom - pup! So what's she looking at? She appears totally unfazed. Perhaps this a comment on social roles and expectations during that time? Curator: Exactly! Or at least, I believe McArdell has found a tender space. This print may be an attempt at presenting us a nuanced depiction of femininity and status. This all leads back to that tiny sentinel guarding a larger truth about Louisa, I suspect. Editor: Truth, gently guarded, like a whispered secret only we, the viewers, are privy to. A final lingering thought: what unseen world is she beholding, just beyond the frame? I wonder if her thoughts go beyond society or toward something even greater! Curator: Beautiful. It is this ambiguity and symbolism woven with everyday life that allows it to communicate across centuries. Thank you.