Charles I and Henrietta c. 19th century

This engraving of Charles I and Henrietta was made by William B. Closson sometime before his death in 1828. The image is created through the process of incising lines into a metal plate, which then holds ink to be transferred onto paper. This technique allows for precise detail, as seen in the intricate rendering of the royal figures and their garments. The stark contrast between the black ink and the white paper emphasizes the portraits' formality and highlights their aristocratic status. Engraving, unlike painting or sculpture, is inherently reproductive; it lends itself to dissemination. Consider the labor involved: the skilled artisan carefully cutting each line, the printer inking and pressing the plate, the distributors circulating the final product. This speaks to the broader social context of art production and consumption in the 18th and 19th centuries, where printed images played a vital role in shaping public perception and commemorating historical figures. Ultimately, understanding the material and making of this engraving encourages us to look beyond the image itself, and to consider the social and economic forces that shaped its creation and circulation.