Portret van koning Lodewijk I van Beieren 1775 - 1855

Editor: So, we're looking at "Portret van koning Lodewijk I van Beieren," or "Portrait of King Louis I of Bavaria," a print by Paul Tassaert made sometime between 1775 and 1855. It's done in an old engraving style... the details are amazing! I immediately get a sense of formal…regal-ness, I guess, but there's a slight air of sadness, too. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Oh, absolutely! I’m pulled into that precise feeling. The formal pose practically shouts "King!" while those meticulously rendered lines—see how they almost *tremble* around the eyes? He *appears* stoic. But it gives me pause to see if Tassaert, even subtly, could whisper volumes about Louis's inner life, the weight of the crown, perhaps even the anxieties of leadership. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it, about the relationship between artist and sitter? This print, a medium often used for propaganda, what’s its truer purpose? Editor: I never thought of it that way! The 'trembling lines' really changed my perspective. What is it that pulls your attention to the subject's emotions so specifically? Curator: It's like catching a secret glance, isn't it? It reminds me, a tiny human thing to add a personal touch to state matters. But that’s the charm of portraiture isn't it, the *human* amidst the posed perfection! Editor: That's beautifully put, makes me see the whole piece differently. Thank you! Curator: Anytime, my friend! Art, as I always say, truly reflects human emotions, no matter the intention!