Silhouetportret van Theodorus Aaninck 1796 - 1798

Editor: This is a silhouette portrait of Theodorus Aaninck, made around 1796-1798. It's an engraving and gives me a very… proper, almost austere feeling. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, silhouettes! They whisper secrets of a bygone era, don't they? I see more than just a stern profile. I see a moment in time, crystallized. Think of the sitter, Theodorus, posing patiently, the artist snipping away at paper, light and shadow dancing. This was the Instagram of the 18th century! A quick, relatively affordable way to capture a likeness. Does the oval frame and carefully etched details on the coat suggest anything to you? Editor: That’s so funny, “the Instagram of the 18th century." The frame and coat… they suggest maybe a certain status or wealth? Curator: Exactly! The meticulous detail, especially the wig, speaks to the sitter's desire to present himself in a particular light. And the fact it's an engraving suggests wider distribution, further cementing his image. Classicism was all about order, reason, and presenting an ideal. Editor: I guess I hadn't thought of it as a tool for self-presentation, like Instagram. So, even something that looks so simple could have been quite carefully constructed. Curator: Precisely! Isn't it amazing how much we can unpack from a simple silhouette? A shadow holds a world. Editor: Definitely gives me a fresh perspective!