Portret van Adelgunde Diesseldorff 1680 - 1733

Curator: Here we have "Portret van Adelgunde Diesseldorff", made between 1680 and 1733. It's currently housed at the Rijksmuseum, and the piece is an engraving attributed to Martin Bernigeroth. Editor: There's a real austerity in this portrait, despite the obvious finery of her dress. I’m drawn to the stark contrast between the detailed fabrics and the sitter’s plain, almost resigned expression. It certainly says something about her perceived role. Curator: Absolutely. Look closely at the lines. The engraver’s labor to depict every fold, every texture speaks to the cultural importance of representation. Prints like these circulated widely, solidifying social hierarchies. Engraving, as a repeatable process, allowed this image and therefore the sitter’s social position, to proliferate. Editor: And see how her pose, while stately, isn't necessarily powerful. The open book hints at intellect, perhaps music, but it also positions her within a domestic sphere – literacy as a feminine accomplishment, neatly framed by societal expectations. It speaks volumes about the pressures aristocratic women faced, their public roles shaped by artistic output that, at its core, upheld male dominated societal structures. Curator: Yes, that’s an excellent point. Bernigeroth and other printmakers like him depended on patronage and a system where such gender roles were perpetuated and even celebrated through images like this one. And don't ignore the impact of distribution, this portrait, mass produced for its time, further entrenched its symbolism in the broader social imagination. Editor: It’s a reminder that even seemingly straightforward portraiture can be deeply embedded in the socio-political currents of the time. Considering the conditions of its creation and the labor that went into mass producing and disseminating the image, allows us to unpack broader cultural narratives. Curator: By observing the material realities of its creation, from the engraver's workshop to its life within the social landscape, we glimpse how images like this one, played a part in forming the historical consciousness of an era.