Buste van een bebaarde man in toga, naar rechts 1646 - 1670

Curator: Gazing up at us today is "Bust of a Bearded Man in Toga, Facing Right," attributed to Hubert Quellinus. This engraving, created sometime between 1646 and 1670, resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My initial impression is…serious contemplation. There's a weighty gravity to this bearded gentleman. A Roman gravitas, if you will. The monochrome of the print adds to that sense of antiquity and thoughtfulness. Curator: Absolutely, it invokes the Roman era, both artistically and politically. Prints like this offered wider access to classical ideals, even to those unable to travel and admire Roman sculpture directly. It circulated and solidified certain notions about leadership, wisdom and power throughout 17th century society. Editor: I love how the cross-hatching gives the toga a sense of drape and texture. And yet, that unwavering gaze feels somewhat…austere. Almost a call to duty, or maybe a warning? Curator: Perhaps both! Portraits like this were used to cultivate public personas. Think of it as early political image-making. Showing him in the formal toga lends the man authority but could be perceived very differently by the diverse public, especially in regions grappling with civic issues or different forms of governance. Editor: Right. Was Quellinus commenting on power structures, or simply participating in an artistic trend? Or maybe both! Is there a whisper of cynicism lurking there behind that meticulous beard? Curator: Those nuances can depend heavily on the viewers perspective, something Quellinus must've understood. His skill in capturing those expressions is key. And, engraving allowed for the precise replication and broad distribution of this "ideal." Editor: He got the knowing squint of the eye just right! For me it’s like peering into a very particular kind of history… the type concerned with shaping public perception! The little choices an artist makes echo so loudly over time, it's fantastic. Curator: And it gives us cause to consider why we're still drawn to these images centuries later! Editor: Precisely! Still plenty to learn from how leaders of the past presented themselves. Fascinating!