Portret van Jean-Baptiste Colbert en Hortense Mancini als Vertumnus en Pomona 1777

Editor: This engraving, "Portret van Jean-Baptiste Colbert en Hortense Mancini als Vertumnus en Pomona," from 1777, by James Watson, portrays these figures in allegorical garb. The whole composition, but especially the satin fabric, has this sheen that seems impossible for an engraving. How does the choice of material here affect our understanding of the work? Curator: Considering the materiality allows us to see how Watson, as an engraver, inserts himself into a complex network of production. He's not simply reproducing an image, he is transmuting it, using tools and techniques specific to engraving to evoke textures like satin. The value then, shifts from the representation itself to the skillful manipulation of the medium. This elevates the status of engraving, a craft, into the realm of high art, doesn't it? Editor: So it's a claim for respect from the engraver to the painting world? But the historical figures here... weren't they symbols of power in their own right? Curator: Exactly! Colbert, Louis XIV's finance minister, and Mancini, a powerful duchess. Watson links their power with his own artistic labour. It begs the question: Is the power displayed here more about these celebrated historical figures, or is it about the artist's skill in recreating them for consumption? It's worth noting that engravings were also a means of disseminating images widely. How does that fact affect our understanding of the image’s circulation? Editor: That is fascinating. The engraving could also, at that point, almost act as a kind of propaganda, I suppose, widely available through the marketplace. Curator: Precisely. This brings it back to the means of production – Watson’s technique allowed this imagery to enter the cultural landscape. The very *thingness* of the engraving is intrinsic to its function. Editor: This focus on material and technique offers a whole new appreciation for this work. Thanks so much for shedding light on this engraving's cultural reach. Curator: The pleasure was all mine!