Portret van François de Villemontée before 1675

Editor: Here we have René Lochon’s engraving, “Portret van François de Villemontée,” from before 1675, housed here at the Rijksmuseum. I’m immediately drawn to the subject's serene expression. It’s quite an intimate portrait. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: Well, I find myself drifting into the leaves – a verdant frame for a man of apparent substance. Doesn’t the swirling laurel wreath feel almost... theatrical? As if we are watching a play and he is both the character and the audience? Editor: Theatrical, definitely! Especially with that coat of arms nestled at the bottom, it feels very staged, a proclamation of status. But, does the almost photographic detail take away from that a little? Curator: It does feel both formal and surprisingly candid. The detail feels intensely observed. This tension, between formal presentation and genuine presence is what really pulls me in. I imagine Lochon saw more than just position in Villemontée's face. Editor: You’re right; there's a sense of seeking something beyond status in this portrait. Maybe something more personal? Almost vulnerable, even? Curator: Yes, like the slightest quiver in his expression betrays something he doesn’t intend to show, like watching someone on the edge of understanding. Editor: That’s beautifully put! It makes you think about what portraits *can* capture beyond just likeness. Thank you, I hadn’t quite seen it that way before. Curator: My pleasure! And I think I need to look more deeply at laurel wreaths now, wondering who *they* are!