Portret van Guy Michel Lejay en zijn familie 1618 - 1630

Editor: This is "Portret van Guy Michel Lejay en zijn familie" by Crispijn van de Passe (II), dating from between 1618 and 1630. It's a print, an engraving, held here at the Rijksmuseum. The family is staged outdoors, and it's making me think about how much they want to showcase themselves. What can you tell me about the role of portraiture at that time? Curator: Well, family portraits during this period in the Dutch Golden Age were often powerful statements about status and social positioning, weren’t they? Think about how artistic patronage operated and who had access. It’s interesting to consider the context of a family commissioning an artist for a display of wealth, lineage and power. What details strike you as indicators of status? Editor: Their clothes are ornate, of course, and the presence of animals such as a dog are common markers for the aristocracy at this time, however the display of family seals would be considered very prestigious! What else tells you about wealth? Curator: Consider the landscape. It seems both idealized and tamed, a vision of man's control over nature. Do you notice how they’re carefully situated in front of it? Remember, the politics of imagery always extend beyond the subjects themselves; it involves what they choose to present, what they want to project, and to whom. How might this family portrait function as propaganda, perhaps? Editor: It's interesting how a print could function as propaganda - maybe a way to make sure other noble houses in the region know how you're doing. I'm used to thinking about how oil paintings operate in that sense, rather than the print-making. Curator: Exactly. Prints had a different mode of circulation and accessibility. Think about how the family seal could function for public life. The political messaging embedded here works on several levels and speaks to different audiences across various locations and levels of the social ladder. Editor: I hadn't thought about all of that, it feels like this piece is loaded with intention! It’s amazing how much social commentary can be packed into one family portrait, thanks! Curator: Indeed. Examining art through the lens of social history reveals the profound impact art has on collective identity, politics and historical discourse. Always think about public consumption, and the politics behind the visual arts.