Portret van Zacharias Huber 1842 - 1887

Editor: Here we have a print entitled "Portret van Zacharias Huber," made sometime between 1842 and 1887 by Johannes Hermanus van der Heijden. It's an engraving and it reminds me of portraits from the Baroque period with that enormous wig. What jumps out at you about this piece? Curator: Well, considering its later date, I'm interested in the choice to depict Huber in what you rightly identify as a very Baroque style. Engravings like these were often commissioned to circulate an image of a notable person, functioning almost like a proto-photograph. The style choice here therefore speaks volumes. Who was Huber in the public sphere, and how would adhering to established artistic tropes contribute to this image, or potentially challenge it? Editor: That's interesting. I hadn’t thought about the conscious decision behind the style. Do you think the Baroque style adds a sense of authority or tradition to Huber's image? Curator: Exactly! Think about who usually gets portrayed with Baroque trappings. The robes, the wig…they denote a certain kind of power. How might a more 'modern' portrayal of Huber at the time change public perception of who he was and his position in society? Also, where might prints like this circulate? Was this designed to be displayed, and if so, who had access to viewing it? Editor: I suppose a modern portrayal might make him seem more approachable. And given that this is a print, perhaps these were circulated amongst an educated class, reinforcing a connection between learning and social standing. I never thought about an artwork’s style in connection with political influence until now! Curator: Precisely! This image exists not in a vacuum, but in a very specific social and artistic climate, making it a powerful window into the past. It prompts you to think beyond surface level understanding of a portrait.