Portret van Lodewijk XIV, koning van Frankrijk 1670 - 1724

Jacob Gole made this portrait of Louis XIV, King of France, around the turn of the 18th century. It's made using a technique called mezzotint, a printmaking process that relies on building up tone through careful gradations of light and dark. The process begins with roughening the entire plate, typically copper, so it would print as solid black. The artist then works back into the surface with a tool called a scraper, burnishing the metal to varying degrees to create lighter areas. The result is a rich, velvety effect, particularly suited to capturing the textures of fabric and skin. Look closely, and you'll see how Gole uses this technique to full effect, rendering Louis XIV's elaborate wig and ornate lace collar with exquisite detail. It's worth remembering that prints like this were luxury items in their own right, requiring significant labor and skill to produce. Appreciating the artistry involved challenges distinctions between craft and fine art, and reminds us of the labor that went into creating even seemingly simple images.