Portret van Margaret Woffington 1751

Curator: Right, let's talk about this print. It's titled "Portret van Margaret Woffington" and dates back to 1751, crafted by John (II) Faber. Editor: She seems rather self-assured, almost amused. The print itself feels delicate but there's an undercurrent of drama... theatrical almost. Curator: That's spot on! This engraving is part of the baroque movement, which aimed to evoke intensity, and Faber chose to depict the actress Margaret Woffington in character—as Mrs. Ford from "The Merry Wives of Windsor". Notice how the artist uses engraving to really give us all the textural differences within the overall piece. The ruffs are fluffy and intricate, the dresses, satin or matte wools? Editor: The contrasts definitely contribute to the overall richness. Speaking of those contrasts, notice how the landscapes fade off to muted lines. What do you think about how her costume sort of melts into the background of hillsides? She looms forward but not entirely. It has the strange affect of bringing the drama forward too! The play within the drama of an actor of a play within a… It gets quite dizzying to unravel and seems to serve to give it additional gravitas, too! Curator: You're touching on something critical here. See how Faber leverages light and shadow. Baroque masters, even in engraving, often sought dynamism—a quality perfectly aligned with the lively arts. Editor: All in all, even if she has the slightly reserved poise of her time period, her arms crossed and the barely detectable lift to her eyebrows make you wonder what kinds of troubles this Mrs. Ford could be getting into… And how aware of her charms the real actress was! Curator: Indeed, Faber gives us much to consider, hinting at the performer, the character, and the woman behind them both. The baroque love for illusion really meets its apex, doesn’t it!