Penning met het portret van Karel de Stoute 1718

Curator: So, what grabs you first about this image? Editor: It feels so precise, almost surgically so. The details are rendered with incredible control—like a miniaturist flexing their power over something grand. Is it always this scale? Curator: The Rijksmuseum houses this engraving by Bernard Picart from 1718, titled “Penning met het portret van Karel de Stoute,” which translates to "Medal with the portrait of Charles the Bold." It's a print on paper, mimicking the appearance of a metal coin. Editor: A medal! That explains the weightiness despite its size. I see two distinct medallions: one featuring Charles in profile with a laurel wreath, almost Roman, and the other featuring some sort of emblem – a lamb? It looks...well, like it's ready for a heraldic gig. What’s the story here? Curator: Charles the Bold was the Duke of Burgundy in the 15th century. This print, made centuries later, serves as a historical commemoration, presenting him in the classicized style of the 18th century. It speaks to how historical figures are continually re-imagined to suit present needs. Editor: Ah, so Picart is playing with historical perceptions as much as portraying the Duke himself. The lines practically sing with self-assuredness. But I am getting subtle hints of artifice; it's all a bit too composed to feel totally authentic, right? Curator: That "artifice" is central! Think of it less as historical record and more as historical commentary. The choice to portray him in this clean, almost neoclassical style highlights the values that the artist – and perhaps the society of that time – wished to associate with this historical figure. Editor: Okay, I’m on board. So this isn't just about documenting history, it’s about sculpting a public image—or maybe just recycling one? I keep picturing those powdered wigs and philosophical salons. Everything's so curated, just so. Curator: Precisely! These images functioned in a world of political symbolism and power. It's less about individual expression than participation in a visual language, meant to convey legitimacy and authority. Editor: I see it. A controlled whisper from the past, expertly etched. Thanks for putting it in perspective. Curator: My pleasure. It’s always intriguing to consider how history is packaged and presented.