Portret van Johannes III van Portugal 1553 - 1557

Curator: Welcome. Before us hangs a print identified as "Portret van Johannes III van Portugal" created sometime between 1553 and 1557 by Cornelis Anthonisz. The piece, an engraving, resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My initial reaction is that it feels like a deliberate study in contrasts. Stark, almost graphic, with a powerful use of line to define form. The chromatic range is narrow and further accentuates this feeling. Curator: Indeed. Note how the artist employs line not just to delineate form, but to create texture and volume, particularly in the king's elaborate robes. The negative space, that almost bleached white backdrop, enhances the graphic quality of the piece. Editor: Beyond the technique, the symbols really capture the eye. The royal crest there on the right. The posture of Johannes III himself. There's a calculated visual narrative being presented, isn't there? His right hand gesturing to… somewhere. What’s in that scroll? Curator: Well, considering the location and timeframe, and his slightly averted gaze, might he be gesturing towards new world ambitions, towards the Spice Route? Also the Latin script tells us quite a lot of other information: notice “Arabie. Perise. Indie.” included in the writing above him? What can be made of this repetition of location? Editor: Interesting connections to trade and global exploration… which, given Portugal’s role at that time, seems wholly fitting. His garb as well, the weight of those dark robes. Curator: Precisely! The dark costume dominates; It almost suggests a kind of… visual weightiness. It suggests power but also perhaps constraint. The king is, in essence, framed by his own status. This seems intentional. Editor: The piece certainly provokes a contemplation on the individual versus the institution, power versus person. Anthonisz. masterfully captures that tension here. Curator: Absolutely. It is, structurally, a fascinating construction of line and form… while also offering much more than mere visual elements. Editor: Indeed. It's remarkable how much this portrait can tell us about both Johannes III and the world he inhabited.