Portret van Jan II 1755 - 1765

Editor: So, this is "Portret van Jan II," dating roughly between 1755 and 1765, by Sébastien Pinssio. It’s an engraving, very linear. I’m immediately drawn to the figure’s placid expression—almost detached. What do you see in this piece that perhaps I'm missing? Curator: Ah, yes, the detached gaze of power! This is history, filtered through the lens of Baroque and Academic art traditions. It speaks to me of calculated image-making. It reminds me of how royalty wished to be seen: calm, composed, above the fray. Notice how the oval frame sets him apart, almost enshrining him? Does that make you think about authority or maybe something else? Editor: That's a good point about the oval frame – like a little monument. I guess I see more of a manufactured persona, less about the actual person. It's like he’s playing a role. Curator: Precisely! The engraving technique reinforces this—clean, precise lines. This wasn’t about capturing a fleeting moment of life. This was about establishing a legacy. Think of it as visual propaganda—each line, each carefully considered detail working towards a specific end. I feel like history isn’t a series of facts; it’s a carefully constructed narrative. Editor: That’s really insightful! I never considered it as a form of early propaganda. Curator: Indeed. And maybe propaganda isn’t always a bad thing! In art, at least. A good reminder for me that portraits contain truths *and* untruths. What about you? Editor: It really got me thinking about how much images of people changed based on how they wanted to be seen. Thank you!