Portret van François-Hercule de Valois, hertog van Anjou 1578

Editor: Here we have Philips Galle’s 1578 engraving, "Portret van François-Hercule de Valois, hertog van Anjou," currently held in the Rijksmuseum. It's a rather formal portrait. What strikes me most are all the visual cues to power, particularly the armour and heraldry. What do you make of it? Curator: It's a fascinating exercise in the language of power. Armour, certainly, but look at the heraldry – more than just identification, it's a visual embodiment of lineage and claim. The fleur-de-lis, repeated motifs; these aren't just decoration, they are assertive declarations. Even the crown itself acts as a sort of potent logo. What emotional impact does all of that symbolism have? Editor: I feel like the sheer volume of symbols almost diminishes them. It feels staged, a performance of power rather than genuine authority. Like the Duke is overcompensating for something… Curator: Precisely! Consider the historical context. Anjou, though a prince, was a somewhat controversial figure, a perennial candidate for various thrones. All these symbols could represent a deep-seated anxiety about the legitimacy of that claim and recognition from his peers. Editor: So, it's not just a display of power, but maybe a plea for acceptance as well? The visual equivalent of desperately trying to convince everyone of your importance. Curator: Indeed. Galle, knowingly or not, has captured the psychological weight of ambition, anxieties, and perhaps also the performative aspects of being in the aristocracy. Editor: I never thought of it that way. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for those kinds of details in other portraits now! Curator: And that constant interplay, that’s how imagery truly speaks, and is understood within its cultural moment.