Portret van Dominicus Baudius 1608

Curator: This engraving, currently housed at the Rijksmuseum, is titled "Portret van Dominicus Baudius," created in 1608 by Jacob Matham. Baudius, depicted here, was a professor of law and history. Editor: Right, it strikes me immediately as a very formal and serious affair. Lots of inscription, contained in a pretty rigid oval. There's a gravity to his gaze. Did people actually sit still long enough for this kind of painstaking work? Curator: Well, as an engraving, it wasn't created in situ like a painting might have been. Engravings such as this would often be made after a painting or drawing and were much easier to reproduce, becoming quite popular during the Baroque period. Think of it as the early modern equivalent of a photograph or a biographical note. Editor: A photograph! Yes, I get that. It gives a real sense of wanting to project an image. That stern look, the very formal robe, the inscription all about him... it’s a very deliberate construction. Do you know who commissioned it? Curator: It's not entirely clear who specifically commissioned the work, but considering that Matham was a well-regarded engraver, it could very well have been commissioned by Baudius himself, the university, or perhaps by a patron looking to promote his work. We need to remember that patronage played a vital role during this time period. The display of power, intelligence and legacy through visual imagery was as calculated as it was ubiquitous. Editor: It's the trappings, isn't it? They scream status. Look at that crest and Latin script, like subtle—or not so subtle—cues for the viewer. He knew how to curate his persona, so to speak, which is fascinating from today’s perspective, when persona-building has taken on such a completely different shape, with selfies and tweets and whatnot. Curator: I think that's an interesting parallel! While the modes of presentation have changed radically, the underlying desire to shape one's narrative is very similar. In both cases, we see a carefully constructed performance of the self for public consumption. Editor: And what I find amusing is imagining someone like Dominicus Baudius hopping in a time machine, taking one glance at Instagram and saying: "This is… chaos!” Curator: Well, Jacob Matham’s skill is definitely worth noting, too. Editor: Definitely, although I think I’ll be picturing Dominicus grappling with social media from now on!