Portret van Maurits, prins van Oranje c. 1668 - 1691

Editor: Here we have Gaspar Bouttats’ “Portret van Maurits, prins van Oranje,” a pen drawing dating from around 1668 to 1691. It’s at the Rijksmuseum, and, honestly, the sheer busyness of the composition is a bit overwhelming. What’s your take? Curator: Overwhelming, yes, but I find that controlled chaos rather exciting! Imagine Bouttats, hunched over, obsessively detailing every cherub, every ripple of water. The portrait itself, though central, feels almost like an excuse for the fantastical ornamentation swirling around it. Don’t you think it is fascinating how he places Maurits, a figure of power, within this mythological framework? Editor: That’s true, it does elevate him. What's the story with all the figures surrounding him? Curator: Ah, that’s where it gets juicy. The gods, the river deities, the horses... It's a deliberate statement. Bouttats is evoking a sense of divine right, military prowess, and prosperity – everything a good ruler should embody. Look how the figures almost burst out of the frame! What feeling does that give you? Editor: Like he’s trying to communicate that Maurits is larger than life, but I initially just saw a frame! I love it when artists fill a frame to the point of explosion, but the technique with this ink makes it so serious. Curator: Indeed! It’s this tension between controlled technique and exuberant imagery that grabs me. It almost feels like Bouttats is whispering secrets about the man’s ambition behind the formal portrait. Do you see how a tattoo artist could use the same visual motifs? Editor: I can totally see this as a wild back piece! I wouldn’t have seen that without you highlighting it. So much going on in this tiny little artwork. Curator: And isn’t that the fun of it all? We come, we see, we unpack… maybe even get a tattoo idea!