Hardouin de Beaumont de Péréfixe 1665

Robert Nanteuil created this engraving of Hardouin de Beaumont de Péréfixe, the Archbishop of Paris, using burin and etching techniques. Nanteuil worked during a time of strict social hierarchies, and portraiture was often used to reinforce the power and status of the elite. Consider the visual language employed here. The ornate frame and the subject's dignified pose are designed to convey authority. Péréfixe's vestments and the prominent cross speak to the power of the church in 17th-century France, yet his gaze seems to invite a more personal connection. Nanteuil, who was favored by the court, skillfully uses light and shadow to bring forth the archbishop's humanity. This engraving reflects a society deeply invested in image and representation. It encourages us to think about how identity is constructed and how art can both uphold and subtly question the status quo.