Portret van Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle 1682

Curator: Nicolas de Larmessin's engraving, "Portret van Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle," crafted in 1682, presents a striking portrait from the Baroque era. Editor: Oh, he looks like he knows a secret, doesn’t he? Or maybe he's just mastered the art of the perfectly raised eyebrow. Intriguing face, beautifully rendered fur collar… but something seems almost... sly? Curator: It's compelling, isn’t it? Observe the intricate detail Larmessin achieves through the engraving technique. The hatching and cross-hatching define form and texture, animating the subject. The strategic deployment of line and tonal gradations creates a strong illusion of three-dimensionality. Editor: Exactly! That fur collar practically jumps off the page. It’s all these tiny, obsessive marks. A zillion little lines just so, gives it this crazy texture and light. Did Baroque portraits usually feel so... present? I keep expecting him to wink. Curator: Indeed. The gaze is direct, almost confrontational. Semiotically, the Baroque favored dynamism and elaborate detail, and Larmessin certainly uses these devices to establish power, in how Granvelle assumes a level of sophistication and cunning through sheer composure and presentation. Editor: He does look like he’s running the show, alright. Makes you wonder about all the political games this guy was playing back then. Maybe that slyness is just a defense mechanism. All that power must be exhausting! I guess it comes through in that fur collar and knowing stare. He feels surprisingly… modern, you know? Curator: Yes, there's a psychological complexity in Larmessin’s depiction that transcends the mere recording of a likeness. He shows Granvelle at a very specific position. In truth, the power isn't just suggested; it's methodically, calculatedly displayed through composition, tonality, and line. It underscores Baroque sensibilities of asserting prominence and presence. Editor: So well put. After looking at this, I feel as if I have not just observed him but encountered him, felt his gaze, and felt as if he knew a great deal more than I ever could! It is as if I existed only for him. I’ll remember this sly, intriguing guy. Curator: And remember Larmessin and the technical genius in its creation, and through form alone, the feeling of power in position can come forth to touch us, even across centuries.