Fotoreproductie van een gravure van De ontmoeting der prinsessen door Jean-Marc Nattier, naar het schilderij door Peter Paul Rubens before 1864

This photogravure at the Rijksmuseum captures Jean-Marc Nattier’s engraving of Peter Paul Rubens’ painting, 'The Meeting of the Queens'. The composition draws the eye upward, starting from figures at the base to the radiant cherubs overhead, creating a sense of ascending importance. Light etches the scene, defining form and texture in monochrome. The image echoes Rubens’ style, which is known for its dynamic baroque aesthetic and opulent displays of power. This reproduction translates those qualities into a different medium, manipulating light and shadow to suggest volume and depth. The use of line in the engraving creates texture that enriches the characters’ garments and the atmospheric effects. Observe how the structured arrangement of the figures within a celestial glow evokes notions of divine approval and political ceremony. This piece invites us to consider how meaning shifts across different mediums, from paint to print, each contributing to a unique interpretation.