Portret van Theuderik I 1682 - 1730

Editor: Here we have Jacobus Harrewijn's "Portret van Theuderik I," an engraving from sometime between 1682 and 1730, held here at the Rijksmuseum. It feels very formal, yet almost mocking somehow. What symbols are jumping out at you in this image? Curator: The very act of portraying Theuderic I centuries after his reign is ripe with meaning. His image is deliberately constructed, referencing the visual language of power—the crown, the inscription proclaiming his royalty. But do you notice how the pen work renders his features? There's a certain coarseness, almost a caricature. Editor: Yes! It's like the artist is undermining the very idea of "king." Why use that technique on someone from so long ago? Curator: Precisely. Consider what this imagery evokes in the viewer: history, power, legacy...but also a critical distance. This image isn't just presenting Theuderic; it's *commenting* on him, possibly critiquing ideas of leadership through the lens of time. Note the text below, commenting on the monastery calling him back to court... Editor: Ah, so even back then there were political caricatures. This gives the portrait a very interesting edge, even if it's also a historical record of how power was viewed. Curator: It’s a conversation through images, across centuries, about the burden and the performance of rule. What resonates most with you, knowing that? Editor: I guess I had assumed these historical portraits were all serious attempts at glorification, but knowing there's an embedded critique shifts the whole meaning for me. It bridges history with social commentary in such a cool way!