Portret van onbekende man met kapje op, in profiel naar links 1620 - 1688

Editor: Here we have a portrait from the Rijksmuseum, entitled "Portret van onbekende man met kapje op, in profiel naar links" - that's "Portrait of an unknown man with a cap, in profile to the left." It was made sometime between 1620 and 1688 by Claude Mellan, and it’s an engraving. It looks so austere and precise. What stands out to you? Curator: The first thing that grabs my attention is the starkness, you’re right, almost a photographic clarity, unusual for the period. In an era defined by religious and political upheaval, portraits like these functioned less as objective likenesses and more as carefully constructed performances of identity. What message do you think the unknown man, his cap, and the clean, strong lines communicate? Editor: That it’s definitely someone wanting to signal simplicity. The lines really emphasize that and sort of contradict the fancier clothing a wealthy person would wear in a painted portrait. Curator: Exactly. Remember, too, that printmaking allowed for wider distribution than painted portraits. The image became less about commemorating this specific person and more about distributing and conveying social and political ideals through readily reproducible forms. Engravings like these played a powerful role in shaping perceptions of individuals and, indeed, social status. Think about the kind of man that needs to wear a distinct and obvious signal on their head. Do we see this sort of practice echoed today? Editor: So the medium itself changed how these people could be seen! It almost made me think about how photoshopped images function today! Curator: Precisely. And the museum holding it only continues its social trajectory! So, we’ve examined this artwork both as a constructed historical artifact and as something directly mirrored in today’s world. What’s your feeling on engravings now, knowing how complex the idea of identity is? Editor: I'll definitely look at prints and portraits differently going forward, realizing there's so much historical and political intent embedded in them!