Portret van Cosimo III de' Medici 1738

Curator: Gazing at this portrait of Cosimo III de' Medici, I'm immediately struck by how formidable he appears, encased in armor, yet his eyes have a distinct vulnerability. Editor: This is an engraving, created around 1738 by Georg Martin Preissler. It resides here in the Rijksmuseum. As a print, it’s a window into how power was projected and disseminated in that era. Curator: Absolutely! There's a fascinating contradiction at play. The rigid armor and laurel wreath suggest strength and victory—classic Baroque staging—but his expression hints at something softer, perhaps even melancholy. It’s like looking at a ruler wrestling with his humanity. Editor: Right, these images were tools for political theatre. Think about the context—the Medici dynasty was facing decline. Prints like these were ways of reinforcing their image, even as their power waned. It speaks volumes about the power of propaganda through art. Did the public believe the staged representation, or did they crave genuine leadership beyond imagery? Curator: It's easy to get lost in the costume drama of the piece. That almost-too-perfect oval frame feels theatrical, doesn't it? Like we are peeking into a historical play. I wonder what Cosimo himself thought, seeing this idealized, warrior version of himself staring back. Editor: Perhaps he needed to believe in that projection, or needed others to do so. Art becomes a shared fiction, a visual contract between the ruler and the ruled. Curator: And today, standing here, we're participants too, aren’t we? Debating, interpreting… the image evolves, gathering new layers of meaning with each viewer, with each era. It really gives me a sense of wonder at the art still around, with their histories. Editor: Indeed, and this print reminds us how constructed and deliberate power always is. It makes you wonder about the layers behind contemporary political images as well, and question whose stories are actually being amplified.