Portret van Anne Bracegirdle als koningin c. 1689 - 1695

Curator: The work before us is a print, titled “Portret van Anne Bracegirdle als koningin,” made sometime between 1689 and 1695 by William Vincent. Editor: The high contrast immediately strikes me, it gives a theatrical flair. Note the use of shadow, especially around the figures in the foreground, intensifying the dramatic lighting of the piece. Curator: Yes, that drama underscores its purpose as a record of performance. Anne Bracegirdle was a celebrated actress, and this depicts her in character, likely from a popular play of the time that exotified other cultures for an elite audience. The presentation leans heavily into stereotypes. Editor: The linear quality is undeniable given the medium of engraving. But the engraver has employed fine hatching techniques to imitate tonality. How the varying densities and cross-hatching create form is quite beautiful, and the flow of the robes suggests movement and a commanding presence. Curator: Bracegirdle, and by extension English culture, is positioned as the sophisticated figure contrasted against the racialized figures attending to her. That juxtaposition reinforces a very specific social hierarchy. Her attire blends a theatrical version of ‘native’ dress with current European fashion. Editor: Observe how Vincent arranges the subjects. Anne is off-center, yet she's the obvious focal point; the eye travels towards her due to her light dress and poised figure. Curator: Exactly, and the staging serves to normalize the very unequal relationship portrayed. Prints such as this were crucial in disseminating not only images of the actress herself, which burnished her celebrity, but also the distorted views of other cultures. Editor: Considering it's an engraving, it possesses such evocative texture. It really gives volume and depth to her dress and the parasol. Curator: Indeed. These details reveal so much about the attitudes of the period toward theater, celebrity, and the othered 'exotic.' Editor: It really showcases the complex visual languages present at the time. Curator: Precisely. There’s a real density to this piece when we consider the impact images have on public imagination.