Portret van Michiel Adriaansz. de Ruyter 1695

Curator: Here we have a striking likeness, a charcoal drawing entitled "Portret van Michiel Adriaansz. de Ruyter," crafted in 1695 by Bernard Vaillant. Editor: It possesses a certain…weight. Somber, even. All that charcoal seems to press down on the sitter, highlighting the textured armor and the somewhat weary set of his features. You sense the gravity of command, the burden of a historical moment resting on those shoulders. Curator: Indeed. Vaillant's masterful rendering really digs into the details, doesn’t it? I’m interested in how the use of charcoal, seemingly simple, speaks volumes about labor here – from its production as fuel and artistic tool to its ability to so vividly capture the essence of a historical figure. Think about it; that darkness came from burnt wood... Editor: Interesting parallel. The creation mirroring potential destruction. And I agree – the choice of charcoal here, rather than something brighter or more colorful, feels particularly apt. You get this impression that de Ruyter wasn't a flamboyant character, despite the grandeur around him; practical, tough, certainly a presence in a time of empire building and maritime skirmishes. Curator: Precisely. He had a task at hand, navigating both literal waters and complex social structures to ensure smooth transport of materials like timber for the vessels and ropes that he and his peers were using. Editor: It's remarkable how Vaillant manages to convey that strength, that lived experience, purely through light and shadow with minimal resources, and with, yes, what was fundamentally burned remains of tree matter. And the framing... almost coffin-like with its oval embrace, eh? Curator: You know, I hadn’t noticed the...coffinesque quality before, but I see what you mean. And isn't it strange? A portrait, normally celebrating vitality, encased in what feels like a premonition of finality. Editor: In that sense, it feels like it memorializes process too, the labor de Ruyter poured in. In essence this work functions almost as a tribute not only to the person depicted, but to an approach steeped in understanding our connection to objects and matter. Curator: Ultimately, this drawing becomes more than just an image. It speaks to time, transformation, to what labor yields, and the traces both leave behind. It leaves us pondering.