Buste van een man met priesterlijke kroon 1646 - 1670

Curator: This print, "Buste van een man met priesterlijke kroon," was created sometime between 1646 and 1670, attributed to Hubert Quellinus, and resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: Okay, first impression... the guy looks a little severe, right? Like he's judging my outfit choices. I do get a strong sense of antiquity too—that classical drapery and the turban thing he's got going on are pretty iconic. Curator: The engraving itself, created during the Baroque era, echoes the broader interest in antiquity present at that time, particularly in its engagement with depictions of historical figures, and that intersects quite directly with ideas around power, and knowledge at the time. Editor: Knowledge... like he knows something I don't? He’s got that knowing little smirk! I imagine someone discovering a lost scroll or something. He almost certainly enjoys riddles. Curator: Well, consider how portraiture at this time functioned. Prints such as this helped solidify social status, communicate lineage. It certainly speaks to a need to solidify and portray particular notions of authority. Editor: It makes you think about representation. Who gets remembered, who gets their face etched in time? This feels...almost performative, you know? Like he’s playing a part. Curator: The figure can also be seen as speaking to tensions during this time concerning religious power. Who holds that power and who dictates who has access to divine knowledge. Editor: Maybe it's the crosshatching, but there's a softness. It keeps it from being imposing or overbearing. Sort of humanizes him, I think. Makes me wonder about his morning routine, or whether he liked his coffee strong. Curator: Prints, especially engravings such as this one, allowed for wider circulation of ideas. Think about it: for those who could afford it, it was a tangible way to connect with knowledge but also to lay claim to that same knowledge in some form. Editor: Right. It's a conversation across time, us looking at him, him… staring enigmatically back at us. A great reminder to stay curious. Curator: Indeed, the historical narratives within it push us to engage with power, knowledge, and authority within an explicitly constructed representation.