Portret van Frederik Hendrik, prins van Oranje, op 18-jarige leeftijd 17th century

Editor: Here we have a 17th-century engraving from an unknown artist, titled "Portret van Frederik Hendrik, prins van Oranje, op 18-jarige leeftijd", or "Portrait of Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, at the age of 18," at the Rijksmuseum. The formality is striking; I find myself wondering, what was it like to be a prince at that age? What do you see in this piece? Curator: It tickles me how these early portraits so desperately wanted to convey power, didn't they? Here's young Frederik, practically drowning in his armor, yet there’s also a naiveté in his face, almost as if he’s borrowing someone else’s gravitas. This work reminds us that the idea of ‘image’ has always been a performance, and the baroque style amps up the theatricality beautifully. Editor: That’s a fascinating point. It almost feels like he is playing dress-up. The floral decoration of his armour stands out – does that symbolise anything? Curator: Indeed. The flora intertwined on his armour, against the rigid, combative gear, speaks of desired virtues in a leader: Strength intertwined with prosperity. But it's an early etching – this detail also showcases the technical skill required at the time to create such elaborate designs, as if saying, "We can control and beautify anything." I bet this piece served almost as propaganda. What does the format communicate, would you say? Editor: Hmmm… by depicting Frederik in an oval frame surrounded by text, the composition gives the sense of a classical coin or medallion. So it immortalizes him, almost like a ruler from ancient history! It's clever how this work's many dimensions reveal how people crafted identities centuries ago. Curator: Exactly! Each element contributes, making you realize, just how staged it all was. That's what truly amuses and intrigues me.