Portret van Christoph Heinrich Reichsgraf von Stein 1710 - 1733

Editor: This is a portrait, an engraving by Martin Bernigeroth dating from 1710 to 1733, titled "Portret van Christoph Heinrich Reichsgraf von Stein.” What strikes me is how he's portrayed both as a military figure with the armor, and also with symbols of courtly status. What's your interpretation? Curator: This engraving functions very much as a piece of propaganda, wouldn't you say? Consider how von Stein wants to be seen and remembered. The armour is interesting: is it meant to convey a powerful image during a period of relative peace for him? The oval frame sets him apart, almost as if on a stage. The visual language seems calculated to establish status. The text also underlines that. Editor: Yes, he's definitely presenting an image of himself. Is the visual language common for portraits from that era? Curator: Absolutely. These kind of baroque engravings played a significant role in circulating images of power and influence. The Rijksmuseum holding this work today speaks to a kind of democratizing impulse as these images once addressed only very select audiences. How do we give access now and what are the questions around historical narratives? Editor: I see. It's a reflection on both the subject's ambition and how imagery shapes historical perception. It really highlights the role art plays in cementing social and political standing, not only within its own time but for posterity. I hadn’t considered it that way initially! Curator: Exactly! And thinking about the choices in imagery reminds us how the powerful leverage these choices.