Portret van Jan van Oostenrijk 1654 - 1661

Editor: This is "Portrait of Jan van Oostenrijk" made sometime between 1654 and 1661 by Jacob Pitau. It's an engraving on paper and metal...it's fascinating how detailed and life-like Pitau made this print. What can you tell me about this engraving from a materialist point of view? Curator: Well, first off, let's think about the *process* of creating an engraving in the 17th century. What sort of labor was involved? This wasn't simply about artistic inspiration. There was the skilled labor of the engraver themselves of course, like Pitau. But before they even started, do you know how the paper itself was made, or the source of the metal for the plate? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way...I'd guess the paper involved linen rags, but beyond that, I really don't know. Curator: Exactly. And think about who had access to such prints. Engravings allowed for wider distribution of images compared to unique paintings. This piece is interesting because it showcases nobility. What relationship might that detail have had to the engraving techniques and social consumption back then? Editor: So, engravings like this made portraits more accessible, but maybe only to a specific, still relatively wealthy, segment of society? Curator: Precisely! The very *materiality* of the print - the paper, the ink, the metal plate, all speak to a network of production and consumption deeply embedded in the social and economic structures of the 17th century. That understanding transforms our appreciation. What do you think about that? Editor: Wow, I hadn’t really thought about the physical production of art this way, it's much more complex than I thought!