Zelfportret van kunstenaar Anthony van Dyck Possibly 1630 - 1646

Editor: Here we have Anthony van Dyck's self-portrait, possibly from between 1630 and 1646. It's an engraving, residing here at the Rijksmuseum. It strikes me as quite a formal depiction, almost like a monument. What do you make of it? Curator: It's wonderfully Baroque, isn’t it? And yes, the monument-like presentation speaks volumes, doesn't it? Van Dyck, with his flair, places himself among the "Principvm Virorvm Doctorvm", a Latin phrase suggesting the most important, skilled and scholarly individuals, a true pantheon! What's interesting is how the very medium—engraving—contributes to this sense of permanence. But don’t you think it's also quite clever to subtly advertise himself, since his engravings were becoming widely popular at that time? Editor: Definitely! So he’s marketing himself as a master alongside historical figures? Curator: Precisely! Consider the two smaller busts flanking the inscription, each under a different helmet. Almost like a representation of an allegorical god of war! A way to suggest the "battle of the arts"? Editor: That’s brilliant! It completely reframes how I see this portrait; the man is more than an artist. Curator: I'd say it transcends simple portraiture and morphs into self-mythologizing through artistic skill and, shall we say, ambition? Editor: I suppose I was too focused on the details in the artwork and did not think it reflected a marketing strategy. It does leave quite an impression. Thank you for shining the light.