Portret van Lodewijk de XIV 1666 - 1707

Editor: Here we have "Portret van Lodewijk de XIV," dating between 1666 and 1707, by Gérard Edelinck, currently at the Rijksmuseum. It's an engraving... what strikes me is how overtly it uses allegory. I wonder, how do you interpret this work? Curator: Consider the means of production. Engraving itself was a highly controlled and skilled craft in the 17th century. This wasn't just about depicting Louis XIV, but about crafting an image, a brand, meticulously reproduced for wide distribution. What does the choice of this medium tell us about the intentions behind the portrait? Editor: That's fascinating! I hadn't thought about the deliberate choice of engraving for mass production and dissemination of power. So it wasn’t just a portrait; it was propaganda. Curator: Precisely! And note the allegorical elements – the chariot, the lions, the figures beneath. They are all carefully constructed to bolster Louis XIV’s image. Who was consuming these images and how did the artist expect them to react? How does it blur the boundaries between portraiture, political tool, and craft? Editor: So the materiality of the print, and the process of its creation and distribution, are as important as the image itself in understanding its message and social impact. It's like understanding the means by which the monarchy sought to secure its place within French society and culture. Curator: Exactly! Examining this portrait through a material lens allows us to dissect the power dynamics inherent in artistic production and consumption. How does our contemporary consumption of imagery compare? Editor: Thinking about the printing process really opens up new ways to view it and I understand a lot better the intended use of the print, and the culture around it. Curator: And for me, reflecting on the skill that went into the work and what this reveals about Louis XIV's perception helps put his monarchy into context.