Claude Deshayes-Gendron 1737

Curator: Jean Daullé completed this engraving, "Claude Deshayes-Gendron," sometime during his career, which spanned much of the 18th century. The subject, a doctor, is framed in a stone arch. Editor: The engraving’s subdued palette creates a contemplative, almost somber mood. The stark contrast between light and shadow emphasizes the subject’s face and the folds of his draped clothing. Curator: Daullé masterfully uses hatching and cross-hatching to achieve a complex tonal range in the monochrome print. It would have been a very popular medium for portraiture at the time. Editor: The stone arch feels a bit theatrical, a stage for the learned doctor to be observed. The books also imply knowledge and status, solidifying the public image. Curator: Precisely. The architecture serves to elevate the sitter, reinforcing the importance of the individual in Enlightenment society. Editor: Reflecting on the texture, the artist created such palpable illusions. I see the velvet texture of the sitter's cap against the stark stone and smooth paper. Curator: It gives us a peek into the social and intellectual world of the 1700s and the rise of the professional class. Editor: Ultimately, the play of light and shadow brings a sense of drama and immediacy to the portrait, and the arch creates the perfect frame for the presentation of ideas.