Portret van William O'Brien c. 1760 - 1790

Curator: Welcome! We are standing before "Portret van William O'Brien", an engraving made sometime between 1760 and 1790. Editor: Ooh, he's got that "just waiting for my inheritance" look about him, hasn't he? So cool and slightly bored behind that lace jabot! Curator: Absolutely. He's definitely embodying a particular class ideal of the time. James Watson crafted this engraving after a painting by Francis Cotes. Editor: It has such a light touch. I almost mistook it for a charcoal sketch, which makes the precision that much more impressive! And that oval framing really boxes him in. Almost makes you wonder what he’s plotting. Or perhaps trying to escape. Curator: It’s fascinating how those conventions also communicate power dynamics. Rococo, as a style, served the elite, visually reinforcing their social status and taste through images just like this. Editor: But then, the artist is creating something new, too! I mean, those eyes, they catch the light—he’s got such a glimmer of humor in them. Perhaps that hints at rebellion simmering beneath the surface. Curator: Indeed. The details like the softly rendered features and that slightly impish expression challenge a simple reading of O'Brien as merely a passive subject of representation. The engraving had a social life beyond just the sitter. Prints circulated. Editor: Right, an influencer for his age. So, who was he, actually? A politician? A dandy? Curator: Actually, he's most remembered for secretly marrying an actress, which scandalized society! Editor: Ha! I knew there was mischief there. So much for inherited money keeping you safe, huh? The heart wants what the heart wants—even, it seems, in the 18th century. Well, this engraving definitely convinced me that his rebellious streak shone through. Curator: The artwork as a record of social expectations but also as an artifact hinting at human agency. Food for thought. Editor: Absolutely! I leave here now with so much more than I expected.