Portret van Philippe de Courcillon 1703

Editor: This is "Portret van Philippe de Courcillon," a Baroque engraving made in 1703 by Pierre Drevet, housed at the Rijksmuseum. All that luscious, looping line work really gives a sense of grandeur… almost overwhelmingly so! What's your read on this print? Curator: Ah, yes, overwhelming! It reminds me of stepping into a hall of mirrors at Versailles, all reflection and puffed-up importance. Drevet's rendering, though, transcends mere reproduction. The textures he coaxes from simple lines! Look at how he differentiates the velvet of the robe from the stiff lace at the Marquis’ neck. Do you see how the engraver even suggests the weight of that cascading wig? Editor: I do now that you mention it. It’s kind of… sculptural? I was so focused on the face, I almost missed those nuances. So it's not just a record; it’s an interpretation, even a performance? Curator: Precisely! Consider the cultural appetite for images during the reign of Louis XIV. Portraiture was key for solidifying social standing and disseminating power. Drevet wasn’t merely documenting; he was participating in constructing the mythos of the Sun King's court. What feelings do you perceive from our Marquis? Editor: Mostly a serious determination, or self-importance. But knowing its an engraving, somehow highlights that courtly ideal… fabricated with line work! Curator: A fabricated image, yes, where every stroke sings of dynasty. This print captures not only the Marquis de Dangeau, but the aspirations and ideals of a whole era. And don't you feel, it tells much about ours? Editor: Absolutely! I hadn't thought about how deliberate the construction of that image truly was! Curator: Every line counts, dear friend, both in art and in life.