Pierre Poncet 1673

Curator:Editor: Here we have Robert Nanteuil’s portrait of Pierre Poncet. It’s a print, with incredible detail. The textures created through the engraving process are quite impressive. What strikes you most about the piece? Curator: I see an object deeply embedded in its means of production. Consider the engraver's labor, the societal value placed on portraiture, and the consumption of such imagery by the elite. Editor: So, you see it as a product of its time, reflecting specific social and economic forces? Curator: Precisely. The material reality of its creation, the paper, the ink, the tools, all point to a system of patronage and consumption. Editor: I hadn't considered that. It makes me think differently about its value as an object, rather than just an image. Curator: Indeed. By understanding the materiality, we understand the message in a deeper way. Editor: Thanks, I'll be sure to look closer at the method and context now.