Paus Innocentius XI in gebed 1724

Curator: Look at this fascinating engraving from 1724, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It depicts Pope Innocent XI in prayer. Girolamo Rossi is credited with its creation. Editor: It has this quiet intensity about it. You see him kneeling, holding a crucifix. He's lost in thought, maybe grappling with the weight of the world... or, you know, just the weight of being Pope. Curator: Well, think about the social context here. Prints like this were crucial for disseminating images of power and piety. This isn’t just a portrait; it’s carefully crafted propaganda. Rossi, or rather, the workshop of Rossi, would have been making multiples, facilitating wide distribution. It would allow the faithful, or not so faithful, to connect with this persona. Editor: Propaganda, huh? I get that, but also the line work is so delicate! There's a real intimacy. I like how Rossi included that glimpse of Rome through the window, and that heavy curtain in the upper background adds to the visual depth. The engraving medium lends itself so well to detail – look at the folds of his robes! It brings out the materiality of his world: paper, ink, the very labor in production. Curator: Precisely! The printmaking process involved highly skilled labor. The engraver is translating not just the image but the textures, the symbolic weight, for a consuming public. Each line has to be physically etched in with great care. It gives the work its structure. But the level of detail seems less pronounced, the forms a bit blurry; what could have caused it? Was it done on purpose? Or do we just need new glasses? Editor: Or maybe we’re getting too caught up in trying to decode its meaning! Maybe the beauty IS the medium. Sometimes I think art's just meant to make us stop and breathe for a moment, notice the quiet hum in the world, and here the line work in itself gives me that opportunity. The slight blurry outlines gives an otherwordly vibe. Curator: Fair enough. Ultimately, it invites a kind of contemplation. Editor: Agreed. Makes me think about faith, doubt, and the sheer human effort that goes into crafting images and meaning, even now.