Portret van koningin Semiramis after 1610

Editor: We're looking at a print titled "Portret van koningin Semiramis," made after 1610, currently residing at the Rijksmuseum. It’s rendered in ink on paper, an engraving. The portrait gives a sense of restrained power, even arrogance. The details are quite sharp. I’m curious, how do you interpret this work within its historical context? Curator: Ah, Semiramis. Legend paints her as quite the character. This engraving, with its crisp lines and formal pose, aligns with the Baroque fascination with strong, often theatrical, historical figures. Think about it: this image would have been circulated widely. Editor: As a form of propaganda, almost? Curator: Possibly. Or, perhaps, less pointedly, more as an ideal, an emblem of powerful queenship for the 17th century. Notice the gaze - unwavering. Do you find something perhaps masculine in this? And how it diverges from the typically meek depictions of women at the time? It might not have had only one particular political motivation, it was designed to showcase how strength and boldness can be visualised, and this print may offer this at its core. Editor: That’s a fascinating point. I hadn’t considered that interplay. Curator: Early prints such as this one have the potential to act as visual anchors in people’s understanding. In any case, I can’t help but appreciate how an anonymous artist has kept Semiramis and the discussion of female leadership very much alive. Editor: Definitely gives a new dimension to seeing it as just a portrait. Thanks for opening my eyes.