Jean-François Paul de Gondi, Cardinal of Retz 

Claude Mellan made this print of Jean-François Paul de Gondi using a copper plate and a burin. The remarkable thing is that it's made from a single line, spiraling outwards. Look closely, and you can see how Mellan modulated the thickness of the line to create shading and volume. It's an astonishing display of technical virtuosity, but it's not just about skill. The choice of engraving, with its capacity for incredibly fine detail, speaks to the status of the sitter. As a Cardinal, Gondi was a powerful figure in 17th-century France, and the print conveys his refinement and authority. The labor-intensive process also reflects the value placed on handmade images before the age of mass production. By focusing on the material and the making, we can see how this print is not just a portrait, but also a testament to the social and cultural significance of skilled craftsmanship. It challenges us to think about the relationship between art, labor, and the representation of power.