Guillaume de Lamoignon, Marquis de Basville c. 17th century

Curator: Here we have Gérard Edelinck's engraving of Guillaume de Lamoignon, Marquis de Basville, held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's striking how the textures feel so palpable even in a print—especially the Marquis's fur collar. Curator: Edelinck's command of line is exquisite. The stippling and hatching create a subtle tonal range that models form and evokes texture. It is through this methodology that the artist manages to capture the essence of the man in a way that is more felt than seen. Editor: Absolutely, you can almost feel the weight of the paper and ink itself, and imagine the labor that went into meticulously carving those lines into the plate. What materials were used? Was it copper? And how did that influence the artistic choices? Curator: The tight composition, especially the oval frame, is meant to draw one's eye directly to the Marquis and his subtle facial expression. Editor: It certainly elevates what could've been a rather standard portrait into something more thoughtful. Curator: I find myself appreciating the technical virtuosity on display. Editor: And I am struck by the physical processes behind it.