Portret van Jozef II 1752 - 1790

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we have before us a fascinating piece attributed to Johann Christian Gottfried Fritzsch: a print entitled "Portret van Jozef II," dating somewhere between 1752 and 1790. Editor: Oh, it has that certain gravitas, doesn't it? Austere. Formal, yet intimate in a strange way, being such a small thing. Is it the circles within squares that do that, enclosing the subject as though in a fortress of thought? Curator: That's astute! It's an engraving on paper, which accounts for its delicate nature. The subject, Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, is rendered with incredibly fine lines that give the piece an airy feel despite its formality. Notice how Fritzsch uses hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and volume. Editor: Yes, I’m fascinated by how those tiny lines form his likeness, those cool confident eyes and somewhat pursed lips; it makes me wonder, was he aware of the monumental weight on his shoulders or was it business as usual in this moment captured? I suppose he could also simply have gas. Curator: Quite the range of emotions! Fritzsch employs Baroque aesthetics; idealizing Joseph but subtly hinting at his personality. The formal attire, the medals – symbols of power – are all meticulously detailed. The rigid symmetry draws your eye to Joseph's gaze, making the portrait so compelling. It suggests the idea of portraiture that functions both as a visual record and a projection of dynastic power. Editor: True. It's a study in controlled chaos – all those precise details carefully constructed, yet it somehow projects a restless spirit, as though yearning to burst from the frame! Almost like the calm before an explosion… I wouldn't want to be one of his ministers on a bad day. Curator: It captures something of that period, doesn't it? A world teetering between the old order and something… newer. Editor: Exactly, like peering through a keyhole at history on the verge. Thank you for showing me new ways of looking.