Koning Lodewijk Napoleon de Sacre bijwonend c. 1805

Curator: So here we have Jacques Louis David's "Koning Lodewijk Napoleon de Sacre bijwonend," a pencil drawing from around 1805, currently residing in the Rijksmuseum. Editor: It's quite a delicate sketch, isn't it? Almost ghostly. The figure's clothing is clearly of high quality. What strikes me is the level of detail dedicated to representing the elaborate clothing and hat in a medium as simple as pencil. What can you tell me about it? Curator: As a materialist, I'm drawn to the *process* behind this sketch. David wasn't just depicting a king; he was participating in a system of production. Think about the source of the pencils themselves. Where did the graphite come from? How were the pencils manufactured and distributed? Editor: I never thought of that. I suppose that is tied to colonialism. Curator: Absolutely. Then consider the paper. Its composition and manufacture. This artwork connects us to global trade routes. How the industrial revolution supported empire by enabling resource extraction and manufacture of drawing implements for court artists. How was David using his skills and materials to bolster the image of the Napoleonic regime and further the narrative around its political goals? Editor: So, it's not just about the subject being depicted, but about all the materials and labor that enabled the artwork to exist. Curator: Precisely! Think about the consumption aspect, too. How would this image circulate, and who would have access to it? Was it part of a larger printmaking project? It begs the question, how accessible were images like these to the wider public, and what did the working class make of these depictions of wealth and power? It gives new insight into how revolutionary thoughts were formed and spread. Editor: That perspective completely shifts my understanding of the artwork. It’s no longer just a sketch of a king, but a fragment of a whole system of labor, materials, and political intent. Thank you. Curator: Exactly. It helps us unpack power structures within the history of art. A drawing implement enables imperial image crafting!