Portret van Eugénie Adelaide d'Orleans 1826 - 1852

This is a portrait of Eugénie Adelaide d'Orleans, made by Pierre Michel Adam sometime in the first half of the 19th century. It’s an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper. Look closely, and you’ll see a complex pattern of tiny lines. The engraver would have used a tool called a burin to create these marks, each one catching ink and transferring it to the paper. The density of the lines determines the shading, creating depth and volume. Engraving was a highly skilled, labor-intensive process. It demanded precision and control, a steady hand and years of training. While the portrait captures the likeness of a royal figure, it also embodies the expertise and labor of the artisan who created it. Processes like these are often overlooked in favor of the image, but here it's impossible to separate the two. The fine lines and delicate shading, the result of countless hours of skilled work, elevate this print from a mere reproduction to a work of art in its own right.