Portret van Samuel von Pufendorf 1712 - 1744

Curator: Let’s turn our attention now to this engraving of Samuel von Pufendorf, likely created sometime between 1712 and 1744. The Baroque era certainly had a knack for making a statement. What springs to mind for you when you see this? Editor: I’m struck by the almost obsessive detail. Every curl of that magnificent wig seems to have received meticulous attention. And look at the textures created just with lines—it's all so intensely deliberate. One wonders about the sheer labor involved in creating these engravings. Curator: Absolutely. The meticulousness really does exemplify Baroque sensibilities, a time when grandeur and ornamentation were highly valued. To think each line had to be carved into a metal plate…I get a sense that the production was almost performative. What was considered craft versus art at the time? Editor: That's precisely where my interest lies. The process is key, really blurring the lines between 'art' and 'craft.' Here we see labor etched into the very material of the piece, not just as surface-level depiction but integral to its existence. Think of the social conditions necessary to allow for the commissioning and creation of such work. Pufendorf himself was a rather prominent figure, which underscores how deeply embedded this portrait is within historical power structures. Curator: A very valid point. One imagines he actively chose this particular style, which tells us something about his own perception and what image he wanted to convey to posterity. I almost wonder what Pufendorf would make of our dissection today. Editor: It's an interesting thought experiment. I would like to propose a consideration of what resources were used to manufacture the print, which provides insight to me. Beyond aesthetics, engravings like these offer a glimpse into the material realities and social relations of the time, giving them far-reaching implications for both artistic interpretation and also material conditions. Curator: And it’s these very discussions which really deepen the value of looking at these objects through multiple perspectives.