Queen Elizabeth I 1732

Editor: So, here we have George Vertue's 1732 engraving, "Queen Elizabeth I," housed here at the Art Institute. It’s all black and white lines on paper, and yet, there's this intense feeling of majesty emanating from the portrait, a real symbol of power. What stands out to you? Curator: It is interesting how Vertue revives Elizabeth I. Look at the means of production here – engraving and etching, traditionally associated with reproduction and dissemination. This image wasn't meant to be a unique art object; its power lay in its accessibility, allowing the symbolic authority of the Queen to be widely consumed by a public audience through relatively inexpensive prints. Notice, also, the detail in rendering of her elaborate clothing and jewels, achieved through repetitive, skilled labor. What statement do you think is being made here about labour in service of Royalty? Editor: Well, I suppose all of the labour is being poured into these status symbols surrounding Elizabeth, almost glorifying the monarchy. I hadn't considered the way a print could disseminate imagery. Curator: Exactly. The materials themselves – paper and ink – were becoming more readily available during this period, creating new economies and driving the spread of ideas, including representations of power. Look closely, how does the texture of paper, coupled with Vertue’s linear choices create a mood and suggest the materiality of royal representation? Editor: It creates a distance, almost. We see her, but filtered through the process of production and distribution. So the materials themselves play a part in understanding how power is communicated? Curator: Absolutely. The choice of printmaking over, say, painting, transforms the meaning, allowing for mass consumption of the monarch’s image, in turn democratizing the iconography. A cheap commodity produces power! Editor: That gives me a new perspective. Thanks! Curator: And to me too. This approach unveils power structures operating well beyond conventional notions of artistic genius!