Madame Bouthillier (Marie de Bragelogne) 1656

Editor: This is Robert Nanteuil's portrait of Madame Bouthillier, and I find it both stern and incredibly detailed. What strikes you most about this print? Curator: The precision, of course! Nanteuil was a master of engraving. Each line contributes to a sense of gravity, but I see a touch of melancholy too, don't you think? Perhaps a quiet resignation. Editor: I can see that, yes. It's interesting how much emotion he conveys through line alone. Curator: Exactly! It makes you wonder what stories are hidden behind that composed expression. It's a window into another time, another life. Editor: Definitely makes me think about the power of portraiture to capture a moment. Curator: It certainly does. A fleeting moment, forever etched in ink.