Portret van Anna Genoveva van Bourbon-Condé 1744 - 1755

Editor: This is a portrait of Anna Genoveva van Bourbon-Condé, Duchess of Longueville, made between 1744 and 1755 by Pierre Filloeul. It's an engraving, which gives it a wonderfully crisp and delicate feel. The subject’s gaze is incredibly direct, but there is also an interesting ambiguity in the details… What catches your eye in this work? Curator: The ambiguity you noticed is interesting because it reminds me how portraiture back then was about setting out an idea, even an ideal, of the person being depicted. Notice how the frame around the oval mimics a jewel setting? This tells us this image wasn’t simply about representation. Editor: I see what you mean, it's not *just* a portrait. The details surrounding the image seem significant. Curator: Absolutely! Think of the text accompanying the image – names, titles, dates – all framing her identity within a historical context. The whole thing acts as a historical marker, almost like an official record. Do you see how the artist’s choices underscore that intention? Editor: The details really highlight her status and the engraving becomes more than just an image; it’s a statement about her life. It makes you think about who controlled these narratives and images! Curator: Exactly! It raises questions about representation and how identities, especially of powerful women, were crafted and disseminated through art. Considering the Baroque era’s love for the theatrical, perhaps Filloeul created a miniature stage for her, turning a portrait into an unfolding narrative. Editor: This has completely changed my perception; I see it not just as a picture, but as a carefully constructed statement. Thank you! Curator: And thank you! Now I'm picturing Anna Genoveva herself carefully considering how she’d like to be seen!