Portret van Louis Lecomte 1633 - 1700

This is a portrait of Louis Lecomte, made by Jean Pesne in the 17th century. It’s an engraving, meaning the image was incised into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. Consider the skilled labor involved, the engraver used specialized tools to create the intricate lines that define Lecomte's features, his flowing wig, and the sculpted figure in the background. The final print, a multiple, would have then circulated widely, offering access to Lecomte’s likeness for those who could afford it. But this wasn't simply a commercial transaction. The very act of engraving, with its roots in both craft and industry, elevated the sitter. It declared that Lecomte, a sculptor himself, was a man of importance, worthy of being memorialized through this meticulous process. In doing so, the print challenges our assumptions about artistic skill, social status, and the value we place on different forms of making.