Portret van koning Lodewijk IV van Frankrijk 1623 - 1661

This is a print of Louis IV of France, made by Pieter de Bailliu. It’s an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, inked, and then pressed onto paper. Look closely, and you can see the fine lines that define Louis’s face, his crown, and the elaborate fabric of his robe. The process demands precision and skill: the engraver has to think in reverse, cutting away the material that will ultimately hold the ink. It’s a laborious process, but one that allows for the reproduction of images on a relatively large scale. Prints like this one served a vital social function. Before photography, they were a primary means of disseminating images of important figures. So, the engraver wasn’t just making an image, but helping to construct and circulate ideas about power and status. By appreciating the craft of engraving, we can understand the complex relationship between art, labor, and social life in the early modern period.