Lodewijk dauphin van Frankrijk 1700

Isaac Sarrabat created this portrait of Lodewijk, the Dauphin of France, using etching and engraving techniques. These printmaking methods involve the careful manipulation of metal plates. The artist would have coated a copper plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, and then scratched an image into it with a sharp needle. Immersing the plate in acid would then bite away at the exposed lines, creating grooves. For the engraving, lines were directly incised into the plate using a burin. The Dauphin’s likeness is intricately detailed, from the elaborate curls of his wig to the gleam of his armor, and these processes enabled the wide distribution of images like this, playing a role in constructing and disseminating the image of royal power. The labor-intensive nature of the etching and engraving processes underscores the value placed on representation and image-making in the service of power. This print invites us to consider the historical context of its production and the skilled labor involved, challenging traditional notions of art and craft.