François de la Mothe le Voyeur 1661

Curator: This is Robert Nanteuil’s portrait of François de la Mothe le Vayer. Editor: It’s quite severe, almost austere. The starkness emphasizes the subject's gaze. Curator: Nanteuil, active in the 17th century, was Louis XIV’s official engraver. Portraits like these were important tools for building power and presenting an image of French intellectual life. Editor: The inscription at the bottom adds another layer. It situates le Vayer in relation to the King, which is a power dynamic that reinforces the monarchy. Curator: Precisely. These prints circulated widely, shaping public perceptions. Nanteuil captured not just likeness but also societal roles. Editor: It makes me consider how controlled and constructed these images were. Who had access? Whose stories were being told? Curator: It's crucial to remember art's role in shaping historical narratives. Editor: Absolutely. Looking closely helps us question whose gaze is truly at play.