Portret van Christian Friedrich Ruhe 1733 - 1785

Curator: We're looking at "Portret van Christian Friedrich Ruhe," an engraving that Johann Wolfgang Heinrich Stockmar created sometime between 1733 and 1785. The subject certainly appears important! Editor: My first impression is how voluminous everything is: the subject’s robe, the wig, even the draped fabric in the background—a celebration of luxurious, tactile materials. Curator: Absolutely. I get a sense of the era just from the weight of that fabric and the very meticulous engraving technique used to depict it. He appears every bit the dignified archivist and historian described in the inscription below the portrait. The lettering itself even feels quite precious. Editor: Precisely! Look at the paper, probably quite expensive. Engraving requires highly skilled labor. Consider the consumption implied, the resources invested in producing multiple prints to circulate his image and reinforce his societal position. Each print, then, is a little piece of propaganda. Curator: Propaganda might be a strong word, but I see what you mean. Perhaps “affirmation” is more accurate. I’m intrigued by the slight smirk on his face; there's a hint of self-aware amusement in those eyes, almost like he’s in on the joke of these overly formal portraits. Or am I just projecting? Editor: Projecting? Maybe a little. But the contrast between the elaborate wig and clothing and his knowing glance does suggest he may question societal affectations. He does after all, know about the archive, about the historical processes creating these hierarchies. It gives the engraving depth. Curator: That makes me consider Stockmar, the artist, and his role in portraying this prominent figure. There’s a collaborative dance here; both men participating in a tradition, subtly critiquing, and celebrating it, simultaneously. Editor: And those fine lines! Each carefully placed stroke communicates texture, depth, and status. The material and its treatment are as significant as the subject himself. We can imagine workshops, apprenticeships, and years of practice required to produce such a precise image for a limited audience. Curator: For me, beyond the process, this engraving encapsulates an era—a moment captured through line and tone that resonates with both gravity and grace. A fine moment of artistic rendering from both archivist Ruhe and artisan Stockmar. Editor: Indeed. And remembering all of that changes how we, as audience members, may understand or even consume this work of art ourselves.