Madame Adelaide de France 1756

Jacques Firmin Beauvarlet made this print of Madame Adelaide de France, using engraving techniques. The image is built up from many tiny marks incised into a copper plate, which would then have been inked and pressed onto paper. The engraver's skill is evident in the tonal range and the textures created, from the billowing clouds to the soft fabrics draped around Madame Adelaide. Note how the precise, controlled lines bring a sense of depth and volume to the figure. Engraving, while esteemed, was also a reproductive medium. Prints like these allowed the image of royalty to circulate widely, reinforcing their power through mass production. The labor-intensive process contrasts sharply with the subject's aristocratic status, highlighting the social dynamics inherent in the creation and consumption of art during this period. Considering the print's material and method invites us to think about the relationship between craft, representation, and social power in 18th-century France.