Jacques François de Chastenet, Marquis de Puységur c. 18th century

Curator: This is a portrait of Jacques François de Chastenet, Marquis de Puységur, rendered in print by Jean Daullé. Editor: It's striking. The detail in the armor and lace is incredible, giving it a tactile quality despite being a print. Curator: Absolutely. Daullé, who lived from 1703 to 1763, was a master of engraving, and this work reflects the aristocratic power structures of the era. The Marquis, holding what appears to be a military baton, is posed to convey authority. Editor: The baton, the armor... I wonder about the cost and the labor involved in producing those items. The print itself, although reproducible, also represents a skilled craft. Curator: Precisely. And the image also speaks to the performance of masculinity and social status within 18th-century French society. The Marquis's identity is carefully constructed through these visual cues. Editor: It's a powerful intersection of material display and social performance, immortalized through the engraver's craft. It certainly makes you think about all the labor that's often hidden behind aristocratic portraiture. Curator: Indeed. Hopefully, thinking about both the means and the message provides deeper insight.