Samuel Bernard, Chevalier de l'ordre de Saint Michel, comte de Coubert 1729

Curator: This is Pierre Drevet’s engraving of Samuel Bernard, a financier during the reign of Louis XIV. The print, now held at the Harvard Art Museums, captures Bernard in a moment of poised authority. Editor: The most striking thing is the sheer abundance! The billowing wig, the elaborate drapery, it speaks to a culture of conspicuous consumption. Curator: Indeed. Bernard's wealth was intricately tied to the political and military ambitions of the French monarchy. His identity as a financier, therefore, intersects significantly with the broader narrative of French expansionism. Editor: The ships in the background…it all feels like a stage for masculine power and privilege, constructed on the backs of others. What’s the power dynamic at play, and who benefits? Curator: Precisely! This portrait, then, becomes a complex cultural artifact. It presents a challenge, urging us to critically examine its underlying social and economic narratives. Editor: Looking at this today, I can't help but wonder how much has really changed in terms of wealth and power dynamics.