Portret van Jacob Friedrich Reimmann 1735

Editor: So, this is Johann Martin Bernigeroth’s 1735 engraving, "Portret van Jacob Friedrich Reimmann," housed here at the Rijksmuseum. It’s got a very formal, almost stoic quality to it. I'm curious, what are your thoughts on how it reflects the power dynamics of the era? Curator: This piece really speaks to the power structures inherent in Baroque portraiture. How does Bernigeroth’s rendering reinforce Reimmann's societal position, considering his roles as superintendent and gymnasium ephor? Does the printmaking medium, with its capacity for replication, democratize the image, or does it primarily circulate within elite circles? Editor: That's a great question! On the one hand, it reproduces easily. But access to prints wasn't necessarily widespread, was it? It was still somewhat exclusive, wasn’t it? Curator: Precisely. And how do you interpret the gaze? Is it inviting, confrontational, or something else entirely? Considering the historical context and Reimmann's profession, might his look be projecting authority, perhaps even moral superiority, aligned with the dominant religious and intellectual norms of the time? Editor: I think you’re right; it’s definitely not inviting! He’s giving a very “judgey” vibe. So, while seemingly accessible due to the medium, it actually reinforces social hierarchies through its subject and visual language. That’s… sobering. Curator: Indeed. Reflecting on the print’s function, does it perpetuate or challenge existing power dynamics? Considering the role of religious figures during the Enlightenment, and the complex relationship between knowledge, power, and control, how do you think we can read it today? Editor: I hadn’t thought about it that way. It highlights the subject's status, definitely, but also the engraver's skill in immortalizing and distributing that image of power. Thank you! Curator: And I appreciate you pointing out the inherent tension between the reproduction method and its limitations regarding its dissemination within the 18th century society. Food for thought!