Portret van John Dryden 1690 - 1732

George White made this mezzotint portrait of John Dryden around the turn of the 18th century. Here we see Dryden, the celebrated poet laureate of England, presented within an oval frame, clutching a laurel branch - an emblem of poetic achievement. Considered in its time a mechanical art, the mezzotint allowed for the relatively easy reproduction of images. White's choice of this medium speaks to a changing understanding of the artist’s role and the increasing demand for portraits among a growing literate public in England. Dryden, as a figure of national literary importance, became a prime subject for such reproduction. The image is not merely a likeness, but a carefully constructed representation, designed to convey Dryden’s status and intellectual accomplishments to an expanding audience. The social and institutional histories of art are critical lenses for understanding works like this. Researching print culture and the market for portraits in 18th-century England can shed light on the production and reception of this particular image.