Portretten van Lodewijk XIV op verschillende leeftijden 1688 - 1733

This print, "Portraits of Louis XIV at Different Ages," was made by Jean Baptiste Scotin I in the early 18th century. It's an engraving, meaning the artist would have used a sharp tool called a burin to incise lines into a metal plate, likely copper. Ink is then forced into these lines, and the plate is pressed onto paper to create the image. Here, we see a series of portrait medallions of the French king at different stages of his life, arranged in a decorative, almost arboreal manner. The precision and detail achieved through engraving speak to the engraver’s mastery. The sharp, controlled lines give the portraits a crisp, formal quality. This highly skilled, labor-intensive printmaking technique was the primary means of image reproduction at the time, playing a crucial role in disseminating information and propaganda. Consider the social context: Scotin's print reflects the power and image-making of the French monarchy. It is a reminder that even seemingly simple images are the result of immense labor, skill, and political maneuvering. The print challenges our conventional ideas about the relationship between craft, fine art, and political power.