Geboorte van Constantijn 1667

Curator: Standing before us is Jean Lepautre's 1667 engraving, "The Birth of Constantine," a print housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It’s so…contained, isn't it? All those receding lines of the room drawing the eye to that central event, but almost stifling it somehow. Like witnessing a birth through a keyhole of formal grandeur! Curator: Yes, Lepautre's technical mastery is evident in the rigorously structured composition. Notice the meticulous linear perspective, which serves to emphasize the architectural grandeur of the birthing chamber. And, of course, the distinct separation between the earthly realm below and the divine presence in the heavens above. Editor: Absolutely. And speaking of heavens, those winged figures descending with a cross… It feels like a celestial photo bomb! It’s as if faith itself is declaring, "It's a Constantine!" Though, frankly, with all that ornament in the room, a divine declaration is the least they could do. Curator: Baroque sensibilities certainly favoured complexity and elaboration, but consider too, the use of line, its density and variation, to evoke a sense of depth and atmosphere. Note, too, the symbolic significance, particularly for a patron or collector in that era, to underscore the importance of lineage and divine favor. Editor: True, true. There's definitely a propaganda-adjacent feeling to the whole thing. Lineage confirmed, blessed by the gods, must be good! I'm tickled by how everyone in attendance appears rather nonchalant for a miracle baby. Maybe they are just desensitized from all the decor! Curator: I’d say that the true subject here is perhaps less the actual birth, and more the articulation of power, both earthly and divine. Editor: Well, whether you're into divine power plays or not, it is quite something to behold this world rendered so minutely. Curator: Indeed. A masterful example of how printmaking can encapsulate the spirit of an age, and a story. Editor: A Baroque power-crib—you almost feel sorry for the little guy, swaddled in destiny right from day one. But it’s certainly impressive to see, isn’t it?