Portret van Johann Christoph Wagenseil 1705 - 1713

Editor: Here we have a print from between 1705 and 1713, “Portret van Johann Christoph Wagenseil,” attributed to Pieter Schenk, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It is a detailed engraving. What stands out to me are the symbols surrounding the portrait - they give the work a mystical quality. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, considering Schenk was a prominent print publisher, the "print" aspect here is crucial. How many copies were made? Who bought them? The material conditions of its creation determine its purpose, its circulation, and ultimately its cultural value. Are those alchemical symbols, perhaps indicators of the sitter's, or Schenk's, intellectual circles? Editor: I hadn’t thought about that! So, it is less about individual artistic genius, and more about mass production and distribution of information? Curator: Precisely! This wasn’t fine art meant for a wealthy patron's private collection, necessarily. Think about the labour involved. Engraving was a craft. The quality suggests a skilled artisan. The paper, the ink… These are all physical realities that shaped its existence. And those symbols hint at potential networks, suggesting that the creation of images could facilitate the exchange of complex and coded philosophical ideas during the period. Editor: That makes me look at the detail in a completely different way! Almost like it’s a document of the material world and cultural currents of the time. I initially focused on it as a portrait, but now it seems to be much more! Curator: Yes. Shifting from viewing this as mere depiction to acknowledging its existence as an object born from a particular manufacturing process within specific historical conditions can provide more complete insights. Editor: Thanks, that's so helpful!