Portret van Karel Ferdinand van Bourbon, hertog van Berry 1826 - 1827

This is a portrait of Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry, made with a printmaking technique by L. Desmarets. The fine lines and detailed shading you see are achieved through a process that could involve etching or engraving, meticulously transferring an image onto paper. The material properties here are key. The paper itself, likely handmade and luxurious, speaks to the sitter’s aristocratic status. But equally important is the skilled labor that went into creating this image. The engraver would have needed years of training to master the techniques, using specialized tools to carve the intricate design into a metal plate. Consider how this contrasts with the Duke’s own position, one of inherited privilege. This print, while ostensibly celebrating his status, is also evidence of the hard work and skill required to produce it. In a way, the print medium democratizes the image, making it reproducible and accessible, challenging the traditional boundaries between fine art and craft.