Portret van Moulay al-Rashid, sultan van Marokko 1630 - 1677

Curator: This is Adriaen Lommelin's engraving of Moulay al-Rashid, Sultan of Morocco, dating back to the period of 1630 to 1677, currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Right off the bat, the texture jumps out at me! The incredibly detailed lines creating fabrics and skin—it's a symphony of craftsmanship. Curator: It's true, Lommelin's mastery is evident in the meticulous rendering. He's used line and cross-hatching to describe the play of light across al-Rashid's garments, capturing the texture of the sultan's turban, with that curious little jewel attached, and the patterned silk of his coat. Editor: Speaking of that turban, its size is so interesting – like a soft crown, puffed with significance and also strangely…heavy. It definitely emphasizes the weight of leadership. The steel chain too looks very material as well as symbolic. The image's social impact depended on distributing impressions. Curator: Absolutely, these visual details build his character. Al-Rashid was a key figure, consolidating power in Morocco. Notice the details of his dress, they are deliberately presented to communicate status. Editor: But what about the act of printing itself? Copper had to be mined, processed, engraved with considerable skill…then the distribution networks… all very potent materially in an early modern context. Curator: That's a sharp point, how integral the materials are to disseminating this image and projecting power beyond the immediate location. In that regard, the image functions almost as currency, in addition to its obvious purposes as both record and projection. Editor: Exactly, it's a fascinating window into labor, access, and value creation. So much more than just a simple portrait. Seeing these engravings brings history alive in layers. Curator: I agree wholeheartedly. Lommelin gives us not just a representation of a sultan, but the embodiment of an era caught in this nexus between materials and ambition.