Petrus Borel c. 19th century

Editor: This is Marcellin Desboutin's portrait of Petrus Borel. It's an etching, very delicately rendered. What can you tell me about the artistic or social circles Desboutin and Borel occupied? Curator: Desboutin often portrayed artists and writers. This print gives a face to the bohemian culture of the period. How do you think the medium of etching affected the accessibility and distribution of Borel's image? Editor: It probably made it much more accessible, right? More people could own a copy than if it were a painting. Curator: Precisely. The print format democratizes the image, circulating it within intellectual circles and shaping Borel's public persona. It’s about the social life of the image, not just its aesthetic value. Editor: That's a really interesting perspective; I hadn't thought about it that way.