S. Joannes Baptista Rousseau c. 18th century

Editor: This is Georg Friedrich Schmidt's portrait of "S. Joannes Baptista Rousseau." It's an engraving, and the detail is really striking. What can you tell me about its significance? Curator: Considering its historical context, this portrait signifies the rise of public figures and the role of art in shaping their image. Schmidt's engraving would have been reproduced and disseminated widely. How do you think that impacts our understanding of Rousseau today? Editor: That’s interesting, so it’s almost like early PR? It makes me think about how images are controlled now. Curator: Precisely! The politics of imagery have always been central to power. It's fascinating to see how that plays out even in earlier periods. Editor: This gives me a lot to consider about the role of portraits and their social impact. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It is essential to consider the ways that art influences public perception and social discourse.