Portret van Filips V, koning van Frankrijk 1642 - 1678

Curator: This is a print from sometime between 1642 and 1678 attributed to Nicolas de Larmessin, a portrait of Philip V, King of France. It's an engraving on toned paper, held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Wow, that stare could cut glass. There's something intensely regal, almost melancholic, about his gaze. The oval frame makes me think of a cameo, but blown up and given this strangely detached vibe. Curator: The toning of the paper is fascinating. It serves not only to create depth and shadow but also speaks to the very historical context of this image. Prints like these would have been powerful tools for disseminating images of power and authority. We must remember France during that era was going through immense social upheaval, even with a king! Editor: Exactly, like carefully manufactured propaganda! Look at that ridiculously elaborate crown sitting on his hat! You have this guy, who I'm guessing was trying really hard to project strength, but instead looks a bit…preoccupied. Is it the weight of the crown, perhaps? Or something more… existential? Curator: We see depictions of royalty so often. What's striking to me about this work is the inscription; it reinforces the weight of lineage. It’s carefully inscribed around an ornate shield, itself teeming with symbolism. It underscores that the personal and political were thoroughly entangled during the Baroque period, especially with ideas about divine right. Editor: The detail is remarkable, especially the texture of the fabrics and that impressive chain. It makes me think of those old-school handmade valentines. Except instead of glitter and doilies, you have a king projecting power. But on a piece of toned paper. So, kind of fragile in the end, you know? A symbol, carefully manufactured. Curator: The scale is also essential to consider, how this small engraving could be reproduced and circulated, furthering an intersectional understanding about power, legacy, and the dissemination of idealized images. The portrait embodies a carefully constructed facade, as all portraiture in power is wont to do! Editor: Seeing it laid out so clearly really strips it down. It’s not about the man. It's about the machine behind him, whirring and grinding to preserve a dynasty. Well, that’s one conversation starter if ever I saw one.