Portret van Rijckaert Aertsz. 1764

Editor: Here we have "Portret van Rijckaert Aertsz." created in 1764 by Jan l' Admiral, an engraving on paper. It's a compelling Baroque portrait…almost a portrait within a portrait, if you will. I'm curious – what narrative layers do you perceive in this print? Curator: It strikes me as a wonderfully playful trompe l’oeil. The portrait of Rijckaert Aertsz is rendered with an almost severe realism, framed by what seems to be an ornate, three-dimensional border. And then! To the left, we see another artist painting… perhaps Aertsz himself? And a little squirrel nibbling on grapes! Do you find that amusing? Editor: I do! The squirrel throws me off a little; it feels a bit surreal. Is there a reason for its inclusion? Curator: Well, it’s hard to say for sure without knowing the full context of the commission, but squirrels have been known to symbolize industry or even the senses, but, personally, I prefer to imagine it adds a touch of the artist’s quirky spirit, as if the work’s winkingly whispering: ‘don’t take yourself too seriously, dear viewer.' Perhaps it’s a wink to Aertsz's life as an artist himself? What do you think? Editor: I didn't think of it that way. That makes a lot of sense; the Baroque style had a tendency to have hidden meanings, didn't it? Now that I consider it from that angle, the portrait does seem a little less severe. Thanks for sharing that perspective! Curator: Anytime! It is a work brimming with clever self-referentiality, it makes you think about art, really *see* the art, and its creator’s hand in crafting the image. Editor: I agree; I’ll never look at a portrait the same way again.