Portret van Leonhard Fussenegger op 39-jarige leeftijd 1633 - 1637

Editor: This is a portrait of Leonhard Fussenegger at the age of 39, an engraving made between 1633 and 1637 by Lucas Kilian. The subject looks a bit stern. It is so incredibly detailed for a print! What strikes you when you look at this piece? Curator: The intricacy gets me too. You know, it's not just a portrait, it's a whole story etched in lines. The lettering alone! Imagine the skill involved. Kilian, while primarily known as an engraver, infused his work with such a personal touch, turning this piece into a reflection of not just Fussenegger, but the anxieties and spiritual currents of the time. He almost seems to be wrestling with ideas beyond just likeness. Are those flourishes just decoration or coded clues, wouldn't you say? What's Fussenegger holding, by the way? Editor: It looks like a small book, maybe a bible or some religious text, given his attire. Curator: Exactly! It reinforces the notion of Fussenegger's scholarly and spiritual life. And it reminds us how Kilian was working in that Baroque era when everything – even portraits – became theatrical. There's an internal drama here, almost like Fussenegger is staring directly at the troubles and triumphs of faith. This print invites us into a private moment and it's fascinating, isn't it? Editor: It is! I didn't realize there was so much story in a portrait print. Curator: That is the magical world of art. It's never just what meets the eye.