Portret van paus Leo XI 1590 - 1665

Curator: Looking at this engraving, the first word that comes to mind is "austere." Editor: Mine is “eternal," although I grant you "austere," there's a stillness that hints at endlessness, like a soul captured in ink. So, what are we actually looking at? Curator: We have here a portrait of Pope Leo XI. The engraving is credited to Friedrich van Hulsen, dating it roughly between 1590 and 1665. Currently it’s part of the collection at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Van Hulsen, you say? The lines are so precise, yet they give the Pope such a warm presence. Curator: Engravings like this were about more than just likeness, weren't they? Think about the context: these images were designed to convey power and legitimacy. Look at the heraldic symbols at the top, the way the text reinforces his lineage—every element carefully chosen. The gaze, directly confronting the viewer, isn't that interesting? Editor: It is. He’s gazing right into the soul of the beholder... But all that formality, those carefully etched lines... it's also creating a bit of distance, ironically. I see both the spiritual leader and a figure of almost impenetrable authority. Funny, isn't it? The art both invites and intimidates. The weight of all those papal expectations pressing down on him. Curator: Precisely. The engraver, in a way, immortalizes not just the man, but the institution he represents. And as this artwork has stood the test of time, it makes one wonder about continuity. The emotional gravity... Editor: Like echoes from a history book. I'll walk away with that, I think.