Portret van Lodewijk XIV, koning van Frankrijk, met geknoopte kanten halsdoek 1675

Editor: Here we have Pieter van Schuppen's 1675 engraving, a portrait of Louis XIV, the Sun King himself, adorned with a knotted lace cravat. It's striking how much detail he managed to get from an engraving, but there’s almost a stiffness to the piece. What do you see in this work? Curator: Well, isn’t he something? That lace cravat isn’t just a fashion statement; it screams power and opulence, right? But to me, the whole piece hums with this fascinating tension. It's undeniably Baroque with that flamboyant hair and inscription. There's a historical weight, sure, but don't you find something slightly...comic about all this staged grandeur? Almost like Van Schuppen is winking at us across the centuries. Do you see the slightly exaggerated curls and text? Editor: Comic? I hadn’t thought of it that way! More… calculated. Every line seems to be meticulously placed. Curator: Exactly, calculated! But in that very calculation, isn't there a hint of performance, a touch of theatricality that borders on the absurd? It is history painting but made on paper and through delicate lines! Also think how prints democratised the image. Imagine people all over Europe buying an image of the King to hang in their homes! What do you think that meant? Editor: So it’s not just about the king's power, but about making that power accessible and digestible? Curator: Precisely! A manufactured, mass-produced…icon. In this case it speaks to me about the printing medium used to distribute it, allowing him to maintain authority beyond the Court. He’s packaging himself, almost like advertising. Editor: I suppose that’s the brilliance of a good portrait. Curator: Absolutely! It is much more than just image, isn't it? Editor: I hadn’t considered the, dare I say it, *fun* of power until now. Thanks!