Dubbelportret van Jan en Hubert van Eyck 1764

Curator: This is an engraving from 1764, titled "Dubbelportret van Jan en Hubert van Eyck" attributed to Jan l' Admiral. Editor: It's a stark image, isn't it? The contrast in textures is captivating. There's an interesting sense of distance conveyed in their downward glances. Curator: Indeed. Jan l'Admiral's printmaking practice here reflects the growth of artistic biography and the construction of historical narratives surrounding the Van Eycks in the 18th century. Editor: I notice how the linear hatching meticulously sculpts form, and the stark contrast contributes to a weighty atmosphere. The composition and use of light truly define the character and aging within their faces. Curator: Absolutely. We can view this work as a product of the printmaking industry. Images of celebrated artists were circulated for both admiration and perhaps, even subtly, for political reasons through notions of cultural identity and heritage. Editor: Thinking about that print medium, I’m intrigued by the contrast in tonality, ranging from deep shadow to the reflective surface, it brings dimension into the graphic constraints. Curator: The artist utilizes a palette above each sitter's portrait, drawing the viewer to link Van Eyck as creative individuals. Consider what an original print, like this one, signified in its historical context: accessibility, reproduction, and broad consumption. Editor: Looking closely, I'm wondering if the subtle curvature applied behind each sitter and to the folds in the curtain backdrop gives dimension, pushing the portrait circles forward and further enriching our observation of these individuals' psyches. Curator: Yes. In some sense, such visual hagiographies were a currency—promoting and solidifying an understanding about creative labor within burgeoning capitalist systems. What they are made to stand for outweighs questions of aesthetic considerations alone. Editor: A fascinating analysis that takes us beyond simply considering form and materiality! I leave this now feeling attuned to those dual levels, both in the print itself and within the lives and labour it signifies.