Portret van Friedrich Wilhelm von Borck 1764

Editor: Here we have Georg Friedrich Schmidt’s "Portret van Friedrich Wilhelm von Borck" from 1764, rendered in engraving. The detail is remarkable, capturing everything from the lace on his cuffs to the texture of his wig. There’s a real sense of formality about the portrait. What do you see in this piece, beyond just a historical figure? Curator: Ah, yes, Friedrich Wilhelm looks every bit the important minister of his time! It makes me wonder about the performative aspect of these portraits, doesn't it? Like, what image is he trying to project, and what secrets are hidden beneath that powdered wig? Notice the controlled chaos of those curls! What stories do you imagine are captured in that knowing look? Editor: That’s a great point! I hadn’t thought about the tension between public image and private thoughts. So much effort went into the clothing and the pose; what are the visual cues that might point to something more personal? Curator: Look at his hand resting on the document. It’s a gesture of authority, sure, but it also feels strangely vulnerable, doesn’t it? As though he is guarding a secret? Perhaps a plea for something more to him than authority, hidden behind a pose struck in fine linen and a serious gaze... Who knows! Editor: I love that. It gives me a whole new way of approaching portraiture – not just as a record of appearance, but as a window into someone's internal world, or at least what they're willing to reveal. Curator: Exactly! Art’s that mirror reflecting both image and intent. This has made me look at Friedrich Wilhelm as more than a man in lace. I'm wondering what secrets *he* would want me to tell the world.