Portret van Willem I Frederik, koning der Nederlanden 1813 - 1815

Editor: Here we have "Portret van Willem I Frederik, koning der Nederlanden," an engraving made between 1813 and 1815, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. It feels so formal, almost like looking at a Roman emperor. What do you see in this piece? Curator: This Willem Frederik, eh? Stately indeed! But beyond the stiff pose and Neoclassical frame, I sense a moment of… unease? Look closely at his eyes. I wonder, what was on his mind, ruling a new kingdom patched together after Napoleon's exit? What price glory and nationhood? Editor: Unease? I hadn't picked up on that. I was too caught up in the historical importance of it, I think. All those little details from the 19th century… Curator: History isn't just grand narratives, it's made of people, messy, complicated people. This portrait freezes a fleeting moment, an individual wrestling with his destiny. The engraver Willem van Senus captures more than just a likeness. There's a soul flickering there. Don’t you think engraving – with all those lines – is almost like mapping a face, searching for its truths? Editor: It's amazing how a simple engraving can contain so much. All this time I never paid too much attention to engravings... I appreciate them in a different way now! Curator: That’s the trick, isn’t it? Art whispering its secrets if only we lend an ear, or rather, an eye! Now, let's find something even messier!