Portret van Michael Cordes after 1670

Curator: What a stern-looking gentleman. But I can't help feel that there's more to him than meets the eye. Editor: Indeed! This is a Baroque engraving, created after 1670 by Peter Troschel. It’s entitled "Portret van Michael Cordes," and showcases, as you say, a very dignified individual. He seems rather weighed down. Curator: Weighed down is exactly right. The very dense, dark hatching and tight framing really create a sense of enclosure. But I see this intensity in his eyes too, he looks burdened, like a pilgrim. Editor: The engraving style really emphasizes details like the ruff around his neck and the texture of his garments. There's an inscription beneath him...it reads, in Latin: "The merit of Christ recreates me." It speaks to the weight of duty and salvation. Curator: Aha! That confirms my feeling. And the book and the what is it, some sort of round cap, the accoutrements of his learning perhaps? It's funny how such a rigid, formal portrait can reveal something profoundly personal about the sitter. Editor: Absolutely. Seventeenth-century portraiture often served as a means of conveying social status and professional identity. We can see from the surrounding decorative details how deeply ingrained Cordes was in a formal, possibly ecclesiastical community. Curator: Look at those Baroque flourishes though. A celebration of the very material reality that he seeks to transcend! Is it beautiful? Difficult to say, it gives a beautiful form to a grim reality. Editor: The image exists as a fascinating historical document. Engravings like these helped disseminate information about important figures of the time. Troschel did more than craft an artwork, but played a small role in the making of a certain public image. Curator: Ultimately, a skilled artistic interpretation, giving this portrait a life that outstrips pure documentation, and reveals instead a soul, a journey. Editor: Agreed. The engraving allows us a small peek into the world and mindset of a figure from the late 17th century. The burdens and beliefs shaping public life and its perception.