Portret van Maria Clothilde van Savoye 1859

Curator: Let's turn our attention to this intriguing print, "Portret van Maria Clothilde van Savoye," created in 1859 by Émilien Desmaisons. It’s currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It strikes me as a very delicate work. The greyscale tones lend a sense of softness, almost fragility. I'm drawn to the textures in the fabric of her dress. Curator: Desmaisons captured the likeness of Maria Clothilde, who was, of course, a princess of the House of Savoy. The print itself speaks to the burgeoning print culture of the 19th century, when images of royalty became increasingly accessible to a broader public. Editor: I wonder about the process of making this print. Given the era, the original artwork would probably have required a copper or steel plate. Looking closely, it feels like the crosshatching had a strong effect on the quality of the face and her attire. Curator: Indeed, the engraving medium speaks to a time when printmaking served as a primary means of disseminating portraits and reaffirming social hierarchies. Think of it as the pre-photography age of royal image management. It reinforces power. Editor: And those elaborate dresses – so labor intensive! One can almost feel the weight and opulence associated with her position and its visibility, reproduced via this relatively accessible medium. Who made these clothes and what were their lives like? Curator: It is important to acknowledge the industry behind even an artwork like this one. Editor: This piece gives me a much greater perspective of courtly image and its labour-intensive origins. Curator: Agreed. It's a lens through which we can view the dissemination of power through visual culture.