Portret van Philippe Néricault Destouches 1841 - 1885

Curator: Here we have a portrait, "Portret van Philippe Néricault Destouches," attributed to Joseph Schubert, and thought to originate sometime between 1841 and 1885. It’s currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: You know, he seems quite pleased with himself. Almost smug. I'd wager he's got a good joke brewing under all those curls. The artist captures a real air of confidence, perhaps a touch of mischief, though it is primarily in shades of grey and white. It's quite small, too, which kind of amplifies that sense of a secret being held close. Curator: Absolutely. The way the artist uses light and shadow certainly adds depth to the character's expression, perhaps to suggest internal thoughts. His pose, while seemingly simple, follows conventions of portraiture—designed to convey respectability and status, which also ties into larger symbols of history. Editor: History loves its wigs! And this one's a masterpiece of curls, rivaling spun gold. But joking aside, notice the subtle folds in his cravat and the sheen on his jacket, it all gives him that...I don't know, 'importance' glow? Yet, is that fabric or water cascading around him? I also like how intimate, small in scale and modest in style the portrait feels in comparison to its academic-historical undertones. Curator: His wig—a periwig—signals belonging to a certain professional and educated class of society in the 18th century. The print captures not just his physical appearance, but also something of his social identity—it's like a signifier of societal belonging. Consider this as a material declaration about the individual and his ties to history. Editor: It’s as though, without all that... that wig, you wouldn't have the Philippe Néricault Destouches we are presented with. Amazing. A bit tragic, a bit comedic, which seems true to the style of theater Philippe was a playwright within. Curator: In looking at this drawing, its careful lines and classical allusions, we perceive more than just a depiction of a person; we engage with how social position was carefully constructed and communicated through visual codes, which ties into understanding this individual’s persona in history. Editor: Well, I think it proves even little drawings can contain whole worlds. Thanks, wig guy. Thanks, artist!