Lente 1673 - 1695

Editor: This is "Lente," or "Spring," a cityscape engraving by Nicolas Perelle, dating back to the late 17th century. I'm struck by the level of detail Perelle achieved with just line work. What stands out to you as you consider this work? Curator: I'm immediately drawn to the material realities embedded within this image. Consider the sheer labor involved in creating such an intricate engraving. Think about the artisan's workshop, the tools, the deliberate process of transferring image to metal plate, and then printing it en masse. Editor: That's fascinating; I hadn't considered that level of craft. The architectural elements almost overshadow that. Curator: But look closer! The grand building, the manicured gardens…they’re representations of power, aren’t they? These printed images were circulated widely; think of the accessibility they provided to showcase the king’s wealth and grandeur. This wasn’t just "art;" it was a form of early mass media. How do you think the labor to produce the original image contrasts with how it was viewed? Editor: That makes me rethink the composition. I suppose the linear style, usually considered a 'fine art' element, becomes more of a process to replicate and distribute efficiently in this context? Curator: Exactly! And what about the consumption of these images? Who was buying them? What did it mean to own a piece of Versailles reproduced in ink? It creates a connection – material, imagined, social – to power. Editor: It’s so interesting to consider the making and viewing in this light; thank you for pointing that out! It adds so much depth to something that I initially just saw as a landscape. Curator: The materiality opens doors, doesn't it? It reveals layers of meaning connected to production, consumption, and power.