Portret van Lodewijk XIV, koning van Frankrijk 1662 - 1726

This is Gerard Valck’s portrait of Louis XIV, King of France, made using the intaglio printmaking technique. Look closely, and you can see the dense thicket of lines, all carefully incised into a copper plate, then inked and pressed onto paper. The scale and detail suggest that this was made using a burin, a tool that requires considerable skill and time. The labor is significant. This approach gives the image its character: see how the cross-hatching creates a velvety texture and captures the sheen of Louis's armor and cascading wig. It also speaks to the economy of image-making in the 17th century, when printed portraits were a key way to disseminate power and project royal authority. Valck’s print isn't just a picture of a king, it's a careful construction, skillfully made to broadcast a very specific message about power, wealth, and control. Recognizing the artistic skill and labor invested gives us a richer understanding of its historical role.