Jan van Olden Barneveldt 18th century

Curator: My initial feeling is one of quiet strength; it’s reserved but there is undeniable character in that profile. Almost meditative. Editor: Indeed. What strikes me is the classical style of this relief sculpture titled "Jan van Olden Barneveldt". It’s attributed to Wedgwood and Bentley, crafted in ceramic in the 18th century, perfectly embodying the Neoclassical interest in antiquity. Curator: Ceramic? Really transforms how I perceive it. I was stuck on a stone feeling. I mean, knowing it's ceramic changes the relationship – makes it feel more intimate, domestic. A quieter kind of hero worship. Editor: That’s insightful. These profile portraits became quite popular as symbols of status and were also easily reproducible. Jan van Olden Barneveldt himself was an important figure in Dutch politics and that is a statement in itself. Creating objects of political figures allows a wider audience to align with these individuals and ideologies. Curator: The details too – the texture of that ruff, the almost severe cut of his beard. It speaks of power carefully curated, you know? Someone very aware of their image. It’s fascinating to think about the kind of conversations that must have swirled around the original image and then to think that this piece exists far outside of the conversation, removed from context. Editor: Precisely, and consider Wedgwood and Bentley catering to a specific market eager to align themselves with enlightenment ideals, associating themselves with prominent, often politically charged historical figures through objects like these. Curator: It all becomes this hall of mirrors doesn't it? The sitter shaping his persona, the artist immortalizing it, the buyer projecting something onto both… Art as a conversation with ghosts. Editor: I couldn't agree more. Ultimately this ceramic piece invites a complex view on how history and image intersect, and how the creation of portraits are inherently statements. Curator: Leaves me wondering who gazes upon it now, what they’re thinking, what stories they spin. Editor: A perfect thought, lets leave our audience to imagine exactly that!