Portret van Bernard Picart 1715

Editor: This is a portrait of Bernard Picart, created in 1715 by Nicolaas Verkolje. It’s an etching and engraving, a very detailed print. The sitter has a fascinating gaze...slightly world-weary, wouldn't you say? So much texture in his wig! What do you notice first when you look at this portrait? Curator: I’m drawn to the hand. That generous, open gesture. It's an invitation, wouldn't you agree? And not just an invitation to view his work, laid out on the table so prominently, but perhaps an invitation into his mind, into the world of ideas that clearly surround him. What do you think? Does that gesture change your perception of the work? Editor: Absolutely! I was focused on the formality, the period details, but the hand definitely makes it more personal. What about the inscription at the bottom... could you tell me a bit about it? Curator: Ah, yes, the Latin inscription. "Nec Vetera Aspernere, Nec Invideoas Hodiernis.” “Neither scorn the ancients, nor begrudge the moderns.” Quite a statement! It's a glimpse into the intellectual atmosphere of the time. He’s positioning himself – and perhaps all artists – as inheritors of a grand tradition, yet open to new ideas. Isn't that interesting? How that philosophy is conveyed by Verkolje? Editor: It's amazing to think of that tension between tradition and innovation still being relevant centuries later. The phrase makes me reconsider the purpose of portraiture in a time of burgeoning technology and artistry. Thanks, I really learned a lot looking at this work today! Curator: My pleasure. Art, at its best, invites us into just these kinds of conversations, doesn't it? To reflect on the past, while looking keenly toward the future.