Portret van bisschop Nicolaas Nieuwland (Nikolaus à Nova Terra) van Haarlem 1681 - 1791

Editor: This engraving from somewhere between 1681 and 1791, by Josua van Solingen, presents a "Portret van bisschop Nicolaas Nieuwland", Bishop Nikolaus of Haarlem. I am struck by the stillness in his face, yet he holds such power. What do you make of it? Curator: You know, looking at Bishop Nicolaas, I feel drawn into the Baroque era's embrace of symbolism and status. What is it about an oval frame, though, that makes us feel closer to a portrait’s subject? Perhaps it's like a little porthole into another person's time and space. I get a strong sense of ecclesiastical authority. I wonder, do you pick up on any specific symbols? Editor: Well, his attire for sure. The cross around his neck. And isn't that his crest up there on the curtain? Curator: Exactly! The engraving's precise lines emphasize both his worldly and spiritual power. You see it there in the crosier in the background. Van Solingen wanted us to grasp that Nieuwland wasn’t merely a man, but an institution. And it begs the question, what does it *mean* to have your likeness captured in this way, immortalized in print? Editor: It's like branding yourself for eternity, I guess. Advertising your values! I see now that it's less about capturing a likeness and more about conveying authority. Curator: Yes! Consider what this image *does* – the work it performs to maintain and broadcast a certain legacy. Baroque art isn’t shy about power, is it? It has been wonderful thinking through it with you. Editor: It has, thank you for the insight.