Portret van Johan de Witt en Cornelis de Witt 1672 - 1691

Curator: This engraving, "Portret van Johan de Witt en Cornelis de Witt," made between 1672 and 1691 by Lambert Visscher, offers a stark look into Dutch history. The baroque style, rendered through the medium of print, feels almost austere despite the ornamentation around the edges. Editor: It’s fascinating how the artist uses the engraving to portray the figures but then adds scenes depicting the grim history around them. What’s your perspective on its making? Curator: As a materialist, I'm drawn to the *process* here. Consider the labour involved in creating such an intricate engraving. It's not just about aesthetic representation, but about the material conditions of production. Each line, each mark, represents time, skill, and a very specific mode of making. Think about the access to tools and training needed to even execute a work like this, which was not as easily available at the time. Editor: Right, the engraving itself as a means of circulating imagery. It allows this portrait to exist in multiple places at once, not unlike our digital images today. But how does that influence our understanding of the De Witts? Curator: Exactly. Printmaking allowed for broader dissemination, and what is depicted becomes even more important. The choice to memorialize Johan and Cornelis de Witt through this reproducible medium speaks to the political climate and perhaps even a desire to control their image after their deaths. Editor: That makes sense. So, rather than just appreciating the aesthetic quality, we should consider the means of its production and how it reflects broader social forces at the time? Curator: Precisely. By focusing on the material conditions, the labour, and the mode of distribution, we gain a deeper understanding of this portrait's significance and its place within the tumultuous history of the Dutch Golden Age. It really makes you rethink what's emphasized in artistic representation. Editor: I will never be able to see prints in the same light. Thanks!