Mary, Queen of Scots 1825 - 1875

Curator: This print depicts Mary, Queen of Scots, sometime between 1825 and 1875, held here at The Met. Editor: It’s stark. Something about the crisp lines, the monochrome—it speaks to a formality that’s almost unsettling. Curator: The formality certainly speaks to its function. This piece employs an engraving technique; can you speak a little to the process by which it’s created? Editor: Of course. Engravings like this weren’t churned out overnight; artisans painstakingly incised lines onto metal plates, usually copper or steel. The depth of the lines dictates the tone and weight of the image. What I’m really keying in on here, however, is not simply its technical complexity, but its use within a complex history of social exchange through book illustrations and portraiture. Curator: I find myself lost in her gaze—it’s rather piercing, isn’t it? A certain melancholic defiance that really humanizes her in a way that history often fails to. There is this tension between regality and vulnerability. What a captivating tightrope. Editor: And tightly woven indeed. Let’s also observe that every decision here contributes to shaping not only visual representation but historical narrative. The ruff collar is both ornate and imprisoning, no? And how that delicate rendering must have spoken to audiences regarding power dynamics back then. Curator: Yes, and perhaps the way the light catches in the folds symbolizes those little glimmers of hope she clung to amidst endless storms. We know it was mass produced; but I can still discern whispers, long lost tales hidden beneath those tiny markings on paper... Editor: This print encapsulates Mary Stuart's tragedy within these razor sharp lines, not simply reproducing history, but manufacturing sentiment. The original plate’s sheer ability to reproduce the image says a lot about the era, too—commodifying fame, in a way. Food for thought! Curator: Precisely, all captured on one printed sheet. Fascinating. Editor: A complex and captivating portrait of queen and process, indeed.