Dubbelportret van Maximiliaan I van Habsburg en zijn gemalin Maria van Bourgondië 1605 - 1647

Curator: This is a double portrait of Maximilian I of Habsburg and his wife, Maria of Burgundy, rendered as an engraving between 1605 and 1647. It's held in the Rijksmuseum collection and attributed to Simon van de Passe. Editor: My first thought is how rigid they both appear. Stiff formality in every line, from Maximilian’s armor to the heavy fur trim of Maria's gown. The density of line work is striking! Curator: It's typical of the era for royal portraiture. Think about the function of images like these. They served as propaganda, reinforcing power structures. Consider the distribution networks; prints allowed for broader dissemination, amplifying their intended message throughout society. Editor: I’m thinking of the labor behind those lines. Each one meticulously etched, transferring that inherent rigidity onto the copper plate. What were the printmakers' workshops like, the guild structures controlling this production, and how were materials sourced for these types of printing plates? Curator: Excellent points. We often overlook the complex infrastructure that facilitated art production. Van de Passe and his contemporaries were savvy businessmen as much as artists, catering to a demand for recognizable iconography of European power. Note how Maria is subtly presented to be of equal stature with Maximilian in pose and presence, which is fairly unusual for portraits of that era. Editor: Right, this isn’t just about their individual presences, but a visual consolidation of power through marriage. That level of conspicuous consumption of materials from metal, clothing and dyes signal power in tangible terms for this royal pair. Curator: Precisely. These portraits shaped and reinforced existing social hierarchies. This print ensured their legacy. It continues its work even now. Editor: Leaving us, in a way, examining the raw materials of representation and enduring influence across centuries. Curator: Absolutely, a small piece with monumental echoes.