Louis XIV 1676

Robert Nanteuil's portrait of Louis XIV is a copperplate engraving, a printmaking process that demands meticulous skill and labor. The image begins with a polished copper plate, into which the design is incised using a tool called a burin. Nanteuil would have painstakingly carved every line, relying on the varying depth and density of the marks to create tone and texture. Notice the incredible detail in Louis XIV's wig, each curl a testament to the engraver’s steady hand. Ink is then forced into these lines, the plate is wiped clean, and then pressed onto paper. Engraving was a highly valued skill in the 17th century, closely associated with disseminating information and solidifying power. In fact, the proliferation of such imagery was crucial to Louis XIV’s carefully constructed persona as the ‘Sun King’. Consider the amount of work and artistry involved in this print. It collapses any assumed hierarchy between ‘fine art’ and ‘craft’. Here, the means of production is essential to understanding the image’s social and political significance.