François de la Mothe le Vayer 1661

Robert Nanteuil created this engraving of François de la Mothe le Vayer, a 17th-century French writer and philosopher. Engraving is an intaglio process, meaning the image is incised into a plate, typically copper. Nanteuil would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines into the metal, with the depth and spacing determining the tonal range. Ink is then forced into these grooves, and the surface wiped clean. Finally, the print is made by pressing paper against the plate, transferring the ink. Look closely, and you can see the remarkable detail achieved through this laborious process. The fine lines create subtle gradations of light and shadow, capturing the texture of the fabric and the contours of le Vayer's face. Nanteuil was celebrated for his skill in capturing likenesses, and engraving allowed for the wide dissemination of portraits to a growing public. This reproductive technology democratized images, and served the growing cult of celebrity, but depended on highly specialized labor.