Jacques Sarrazin the Elder c. 17th century

Curator: This is a print of Jacques Sarrazin the Elder by Gérard Edelinck. Editor: The engraving is quite somber, but the details in the face and the drapery of the shawl are fantastic. Curator: Edelinck’s skills as a printmaker were highly sought after, and this print likely would have helped circulate Sarrazin’s image and legacy as a sculptor and founding member of the Royal Academy. The labor of printmaking allowed this image to reach a wider audience than a painting. Editor: Absolutely. And the portrait presents Sarrazin not just as an artist but as an intellectual, aligning him with a broader cultural and political sphere. The gaze seems to convey the weight of his legacy and societal expectations. Curator: The materiality of the engraving process itself—the tools, the ink, the paper—also contributed to how Sarrazin was perceived. These prints were carefully crafted objects, valued for their technical skill. Editor: It’s fascinating how the artists' roles become intertwined, isn't it? Curator: It is. It gives us a lot to think about! Editor: Indeed!