Portret van Claude Fleury 1765

Editor: Here we have the “Portret van Claude Fleury,” an engraving from 1765 held at the Rijksmuseum. There's a stillness to this piece that makes me want to know more about the person depicted and the means by which this image was produced. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Let’s consider this engraving's materiality and context. Engraving in 1765 wasn't just about capturing a likeness; it was about the economics of representation and knowledge dissemination. An engraving such as this one transforms the individual into a reproducible commodity, thus impacting Claude Fleury’s social presence. How does the mass production of images democratize or stratify representation? Editor: That’s fascinating. I hadn’t thought about it in terms of accessibility and class. So, making a portrait like this an engraving makes the image more readily available, and, perhaps, even makes Fleury more accessible in a certain way? Curator: Precisely. Consider also the labour involved: the engraver’s skill, the production of paper and ink, and the printing process. All speak to a network of economic and social relationships. What does it tell us about the value placed on Fleury’s image, that someone commissioned this and ensured its broader availability? Editor: I guess it tells us he was someone of importance, that his image held a certain market value. But it’s more than just vanity then, isn’t it? It’s about power and influence mediated by material culture. Curator: Exactly. Think about the ways in which his portrait served as a kind of social currency at the time. It could influence perceptions about Fleury or provide insight into the systems that elevated and supported men like him. It speaks to the economy of representation at the time. Editor: That completely reframes my view. I’m seeing now how an object’s creation can reveal so much more about its world. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure. Understanding the materials and the means of production allows us to excavate layers of meaning beyond just aesthetics.