Portret van Grimoald (I) after 1661

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we have an intriguing print. It’s titled "Portret van Grimoald (I)", dating from after 1661, crafted by Pieter de Jode II. It’s an engraving, full of fine detail. Editor: Whoa, first impression: a slightly bewildered king from a deck of cards… if cards were made in a darker, more opulent dimension! There's something unsettling, yet refined, about the texture. Curator: Indeed. The print depicts Grimoald, a historical figure with power. But who exactly *was* he, and what statements were intended in this portrait through its complex networks of symbolism? Grimoald's image, embedded in the broader narratives of baroque visual strategies, reflected specific class, gender, and political viewpoints, with the selection of such elements serving strategic cultural objectives within dynastic self-portrayals. Editor: Right, I'm seeing a man trying *too* hard. Look at that faux-casual hat, all squishy. Is that real fur trim? And a chain *and* a cross? Poor Grimoald! Is he a victim of the times, of his station? Or just seriously lacking a stylist? It all speaks to the theatrics, don't you think? Like a stage play froze mid-scene. Curator: We might contextualize Grimoald’s status relative to early post-Reformation strategies of self-display where, among certain groups, even carefully calculated sartorial choices functioned to signal clear moral distinctions that shored up not only confessional allegiances but emerging conceptions of personhood tied closely to nascent capitalist economies. What appears theatrical may have instead advanced a kind of quiet self-assurance, even rebellion. Editor: Hmmm, so maybe he was flaunting it. Throwing down the gauntlet through fur and questionable headgear. I like him better now! Still, it's incredible the detail they captured with just engraving. Each line tells a story! Curator: Yes, technique always reveals something critical. And within those stories there remains always more complexity and unresolved meanings, and perhaps it's the enigma we appreciate most. Editor: It’s kind of sad when you realize we can't fully reconstruct his life now. This print is a whisper across centuries, reminding us of stories mostly untold, interpretations not necessarily recovered.