Portret van Lodewijk van Frankrijk 1707

Editor: So, this is Pierre Drevet’s 1707 engraving, "Portret van Lodewijk van Frankrijk," which I understand translates to "Portrait of Louis of France." The detail achieved with the engraving technique is impressive! What draws your attention when you look at it? Curator: Immediately, I think about the materiality of image production and dissemination. Engravings like this allowed portraits of the elite to circulate widely. What were the socio-economic conditions that fostered such demand for these reproducible images of power? Editor: So, you are considering who this engraving was made *for* and how the process was significant, right? What about the labor involved in making such a detailed image? Curator: Precisely. Consider the skill required, the time investment…the artisanal labor transformed into a commodity. What was the engraver paid? How did that compare to, say, the wages of other artisans at the time? The material conditions of its production and consumption speak volumes. Editor: It’s interesting to consider this portrait not just as an image of royalty but as a manufactured object subject to market forces. It shifts how we think about it. The lines look perfect, but I'm curious if the social context impacted what the material selection choices the artist was forced to make? Curator: Yes, absolutely. Availability and cost of materials – copper plates, inks, papers – would have influenced the final product. How do those material constraints shape the image's perceived value? The pursuit of “perfect” lines had very real material limitations and was impacted by budget, demand, access and the current politics in place at the time. Editor: It makes me wonder how Drevet himself saw his role – as an artist, an artisan, or perhaps both? Curator: An excellent question. He's clearly working within a system of patronage and consumption, navigating the material realities of image production while simultaneously trying to assert his artistic skill and potentially create a profitable product. Thanks, I learned something new today. Editor: Same here. I had never really thought about the materials that went into creating this portrait. Thank you for making the production more relevant and the artwork come to life!