Portret van Johann Gottlob Pfeiffer 1700 - 1749

Editor: This is a portrait of Johann Gottlob Pfeiffer, an engraving from somewhere between 1700 and 1749. It's at the Rijksmuseum. The detail achieved solely through the engraving process is fascinating. What can we unpack about the creation of this portrait? Curator: The portrait offers a glimpse into the materiality of status in the 18th century. The meticulous engraving mimics the texture of fabric, specifically in Pfeiffer's coat and elaborate wig, displaying wealth through detailed reproduction. How does the medium of engraving affect the availability and consumption of such images, and thereby, social mobility at the time? Editor: I hadn't considered that. Because engravings can be reproduced, does that imply that images of prominent people like Pfeiffer would have been more accessible? Curator: Exactly! Engravings democratized image circulation. Before photography, this was key. However, consider the labor. Every line etched by hand, multiplied by however many prints made – that represents significant skilled work. How does the consideration of craft labor shape your interpretation of value? Editor: Thinking about the time spent carving the image... the act of engraving becomes part of the subject's aura. And even if they were more widely available, not everyone could afford one, so consumption becomes its own signal. Curator: Precisely. Consumption always becomes its own signal. Now, reflect on Rosbach's role in this transaction. He is more than an artist; he is an artisan mediating class and the distribution of identity. Where does that put him in society? Editor: This makes me see the engraving not just as art, but as a manufactured item, shaped by economics and the engraver's skill, ultimately circulating Pfeiffer's image within a specific social structure. I'm starting to understand the importance of looking at art from a material perspective. Curator: It gives us so much more to consider!