Portret van Jean Baptiste Coclers 1756 - 1817

Curator: Here we have a piece by Louis Bernard Coclers, active between 1756 and 1817. This etching and pencil drawing is a portrait of Jean Baptiste Coclers. Editor: It's a rather intimate depiction, isn’t it? The sitter’s gaze is lowered, almost contemplative. There is something melancholic and perhaps weary to his expression. Curator: Absolutely. And Coclers’ style here is particularly interesting. Though labelled as a drawing, its dependence on etching brings us into questions about printmaking's public function and how portraiture circulated in the late 18th century. Editor: Precisely. The etching gives it a certain reproducibility, moving it out of the realm of purely individualistic art. The portrait as a social object…how do we consider the class, the privilege, the social dynamics embedded within it? This could even ask questions about image circulation and access! Curator: Exactly. One wonders how widely it was circulated or intended to be seen, though. Its unfinished quality perhaps suggests a more personal purpose, rather than something intended for mass consumption. And perhaps there is more here concerning familial representation. Was Jean Baptiste positioned with specific importance or standing? What social standing did Jean Baptiste hold? How might we consider the power in making this image? Editor: That raw, unfinished state you mentioned makes it all the more intriguing to consider from an identity perspective. Incomplete perhaps as an individual as we all are... unfinished, raw and human...it opens up space to speculate about subjectivity and being in the late 18th Century! Curator: Indeed. Thinking about it that way gives us avenues to reflect about the political nature of images in culture and also helps explore questions about its consumption today. Editor: Looking closer, it reminds me how vital it is to consider the power relations inherent in image-making. Thanks for highlighting Coclers, giving us an interesting historical access point! Curator: Likewise. A pleasure to dive into those complex perspectives with you!