Anne of Austria, Wife of Louis XIII c. 1620 - 1650

This print of Anne of Austria, wife of Louis XIII, was made by Jean Picquet using engraving, a process of incising lines into a metal plate and then using ink to transfer that image to paper. The character of the print is very much affected by the labor involved. Look closely, and you’ll see the accumulation of tiny cuts made by the engraver's burin. This was a skilled tradition that developed alongside fine arts. The image is defined by these marks: they create tone, texture, and volume. The accumulation of labor is especially evident in the queen's elaborate lace collar and the folds of her sleeves. The print is also a product of its time, reflecting the politics of royal portraiture and the burgeoning print market. Its success depended both on Picquet’s skilled hand and the social status of its subject, all pointing to wider issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Appreciating these aspects deepens our understanding and challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.