Portret van Elizabeth Wriothesley c. 1678 - 1680

Curator: This is a print dating back to the late 1670s, "Portret van Elizabeth Wriothesley." Though the artist remains anonymous, the work is a superb example of Baroque portraiture and can be found right here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: My eye is immediately drawn to the sheer volume of that dress. The play of light across the fabric is really striking, almost sculptural in its effect. The artist’s rendering of the light source definitely gives a sense of depth. Curator: It certainly speaks to the fashion of the time, and what better way to signal status than an abundance of fabric! As the Countess of Southampton, Elizabeth Wriothesley would have been a prominent figure in society. A portrait like this would serve to communicate her power and refinement. Editor: Yes, the details of her attire do emphasize that idea of power through material objects, I agree. Looking closer, there's also a strong contrast between the heavily shaded background behind her and the bright, almost ethereal quality of her face and gown. It gives the piece a really interesting dynamism, with the gaze focused directly toward the viewer. Curator: Prints like this were also about accessibility; engravings allowed for the wider dissemination of images, in a time well before photography or even mass painting. Think of the ways prints offered to make art and people visible across social circles and nations. It helped spread influence and construct networks through portraiture. Editor: I think that tension, the interplay of light and dark, and of simple gaze versus complex attire, really works well here. I particularly notice the way her hair blends into the shadowy background; then her very elaborate and luminous garment pops out at the eye. It gives this work a feeling of staged elegance. Curator: Absolutely. The formal elements combine with social status of its sitter to make a document which shows both fashion and the political dimensions of image-making. Editor: Ultimately, it really is a successful portrait and study in contrasting monochrome values, that both captures the material extravagance and personal affectations of an important figure in society. Curator: Well put; and that, I believe, is why we continue to be drawn to such historical artifacts that speak volumes across generations.