Portretten van figuren uit het Huis van Bretagne 1729 - 1733

This is an engraving made by Dominique Sornique in the mid-18th century, depicting figures from the House of Brittany. Sornique used a technique involving meticulous carving into a metal plate, likely copper, to create an image that could be reproduced many times over. The material itself, paper, is humble, yet the image speaks of wealth, power, and lineage. Note the figures' clothing and armor, with their heraldic symbols. The repetition allowed by printmaking meant that Sornique's images could reach a broad audience. The very nature of the print medium—its reproducibility—speaks to a democratizing impulse, where images and information could be disseminated widely. It's important to remember that the images were made by someone, with considerable skill and labor. By understanding the material and the making, we appreciate how this artwork bridges the worlds of craft and cultural dissemination.