Letter L met Victorie 1639 - 1643

Curator: We are now looking at a print from between 1639 and 1643, "Letter L met Victorie," by Claude Mellan, located in the Rijksmuseum. It's an intaglio engraving. Editor: The immediate thing that strikes me is the exquisite detail in such a small-scale work, that linear precision is astonishing, as is the monochrome and slightly cold aesthetic. It makes the victorious figure and letter ‘L’ stand out. Curator: It’s a beautiful example of Mellan’s technique. Considering the era, printmaking was essential for disseminating ideas and imagery. Letter "L" likely alludes to the King Louis XIII’s name, who at that time played a fundamental role in politics. Editor: Absolutely, and Mellan's choice of engraving is significant. Intaglio prints involve cutting lines into a metal plate, which allows for extremely fine detail and clean lines and it makes this image all about control and skill; what does this reflect of the figure that he meant to illustrate? Curator: Precisely, The 'L' adorned with fleur-de-lis represents French royalty, it acts like a frame holding up an allegorical scene where an angelic figure, personifying Victory, literally leans against and relies upon the strength of the King. It's clever propaganda elevated to high art. The symbolic weight is palpable, particularly in its visual association with Louis XIII. Editor: I’d be keen to know how it affected its reception at the time, considering the cost and skill needed to produce engravings? Curator: Yes, the piece functioned within specific social circles; circulated among court intellectuals and wealthy patrons and contributed to building an image of power, reinforcing Louis XIII’s status. Editor: It really is amazing how this showcases the material choices driving and underlining these political strategies. It is interesting to consider how skill, technique, and access were used to communicate political power back then and how the definition of such mediums has broadened since. Curator: Indeed. Mellan successfully intertwined artistic virtuosity with political messaging, resulting in a piece that not only showcases his technical abilities, but also contributes to our understanding of French political history.