Portret van David Garrick als Kitely 1769

Curator: Ah, a captivating piece! This is "Portret van David Garrick als Kitely," a print made in 1769, now residing here at the Rijksmuseum. The engraver was John Finlayson. Editor: What strikes me first is that intense gaze – almost like he's peering into your soul. There's also a beautiful vulnerability, captured despite the flamboyant clothes. A soulful comedian, perhaps? Curator: Garrick, the famous actor, is depicted here in character. What the print reveals to me is the infrastructure around celebrity. Engravings like this were a form of mass media, distributing Garrick's image and reinforcing his fame across geographic boundaries. Editor: So, a sort of proto-Instagram, if you will, minus the filters and plus a lot of elbow grease? I mean, imagine the craftsmanship required to create that delicate lace ruff. And that glimmer on his satiny coat. It’s almost tactile. Curator: Indeed! Think about the economics of printmaking at the time. Engravings were relatively affordable, creating a market for portraiture that moved away from exclusive patronage, and provided consistent employment for many artisans involved in its distribution. Editor: That is true. While a painting captures a specific moment, these kinds of mass produced, historical engravings create something else entirely, the capture and transmission of celebrity as an idea across space and time, allowing a person in Amsterdam, even now, to share a connection with a celebrated man from London. The network of meaning… Curator: Precisely! It collapses distance and democratizes access. Something to consider amidst our contemporary image saturation. Editor: Well, John Finlayson and David Garrick, whoever you are, you’ve given me a lot to ponder. Thanks. Curator: Agreed. A small print, with immense ripples across history.