Portret van Willem IV, prins van Oranje-Nassau 1720 - 1792

Editor: This is a drawing by Aert Schouman, dating back to the 18th century; it's a portrait of Willem IV, Prince of Orange-Nassau rendered in pen on paper. It’s striking how formal he looks, encased in armor within that oval frame; what details capture your attention when you look at it? Curator: The gaze. Definitely the unwavering gaze. He looks like he's not just looking *at* you, but seeing right through you, doesn’t he? I’m curious about the choice of rendering what would be a monumental figure in such delicate lines. The Baroque, with its grandeur, shrunk into something miniature and, dare I say, almost vulnerable? Almost like a study rather than a proclamation. What do you make of that tension? Editor: It feels contradictory! All that heavy armor, the signifier of power, rendered with such fine, almost fragile lines. It does read like a character study, attempting to find something other than the surface presentation of royal strength. Curator: Exactly. It makes you think about the person *inside* the armour. It makes you want to know more about this man, beyond just the label of 'Prince'. Schouman has managed to find an unexpected angle and communicate it through the most simple means. Now that is, my dear friend, the sign of a real artist. A simple choice and what amounts to a complete subversion! What do you take away from your initial reaction now? Editor: That sometimes, the most powerful statements come in quiet packages. I came looking at a regal portrait, and found a human. Curator: And maybe that is how Willem IV, the man himself, wanted to be remembered too? Art whispers sometimes, doesn’t it? We should learn to listen.