Portret van Thales van Milete Possibly 1610 - 1654

Editor: Here we have "Portret van Thales van Milete," dating possibly from 1610 to 1654, currently residing at the Rijksmuseum. It's a print made with pen, engraving, and possibly colored pencil. There's something really striking about how the artist captured the philosopher's gaze; it feels so intense. What do you see in this piece from a formalist perspective? Curator: What commands attention foremost is the calculated contrast between the textures within the oval framing the figure and the background. Consider the strategic use of line and hatching; densely packed in the shaded areas, they subtly suggest volume and depth. In contrast, the lighter areas exhibit a more delicate touch, directing our eyes to specific focal points. Editor: So you're focusing more on the technical aspects of the work? Curator: Precisely. I want you to also observe how the medium, print and engraving, lends itself to reproducibility while paradoxically preserving the uniqueness of the artist's hand. Notice also that the very act of engraving necessitates a translation of form through a system of incised lines; each line bears witness to a conscious decision about weight, direction, and spacing, and collectively these decisions yield the image's final form. What is your take? Editor: That’s an angle I hadn’t really considered. The detail really comes out once you focus on the artist’s marks and how they build up the form. Curator: Exactly. By isolating and examining these individual elements we start seeing new ways to interpreting the print. Editor: I hadn’t realized how much could be gleaned just from the technical elements and arrangement of the print itself. Thank you for drawing my attention to this!