Portret van Lodewijk XV 1733 - 1756

Editor: Here we have "Portrait of Louis XV," an engraving dating from 1733 to 1756. The artist is Pierre François Basan, and it's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. There's a stillness to the portrait; even though it's ornate in its details, there's something very formal about it. How do you interpret this work within its historical context? Curator: This portrait, and others like it, serves less as an individual likeness and more as an assertion of power. Louis XV’s image was meticulously crafted and disseminated through prints like this one to project an image of divine right and unquestionable authority. How might we understand this repetition and standardization of the royal image within the socio-political landscape of pre-revolutionary France, when considering growing discontent with the monarchy? Editor: So the engraving becomes a tool for propaganda almost? Curator: Exactly. The line technique itself emphasizes control and precision, reflecting the ideals of order that the monarchy wanted to project. The rigid lines of the framing, contrasted with the soft rendering of Louis' features, speaks to that tension between reality and constructed image. Considering contemporary philosophical shifts questioning absolute authority, what challenges might an image like this have faced in maintaining its intended effect? Editor: It's interesting to consider how images, even those meant to solidify power, can become points of contention, open to different interpretations. Curator: Indeed, these images don't exist in a vacuum. They are part of a dialogue, constantly being reinterpreted through the lens of evolving social consciousness and dissent. Seeing it through that lens can really challenge how we see power today. Editor: Absolutely. It brings up questions about who controls the narrative and how those narratives are challenged over time.