Old Bearded Man with Fur Cap and Breastplate c. 18th century

Editor: This is Georg Friedrich Schmidt’s “Old Bearded Man with Fur Cap and Breastplate,” and I’m immediately struck by the texture. What do you see in this portrait? Curator: I see layers of memory etched into his face, the fur cap a symbol of status, perhaps, or warmth against the cold realities of time and conflict, hinted at by the breastplate. Editor: Conflict? Curator: The breastplate might indicate a life of service, of protection. Consider how armor transforms a man into an icon of strength. Does it conceal more than it reveals? Editor: That's interesting. It feels like the artist captured a lot in a simple image. Curator: Yes, a simple image that holds a complex history.