Mary, Queen of Scots 1807

Curator: Here we have an engraving dating to 1807 by E. Bocquet titled "Mary, Queen of Scots," currently residing here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: There’s something melancholic about this print. The fine lines used to create the shadows on her face lend her a rather somber air. Curator: Portraits like these, reproduced as engravings, circulated widely, reinforcing certain historical narratives. In this era, the legacy of Mary, Queen of Scots was hotly contested – a symbol of both Catholic resistance and tragic royalty. Editor: Engravings democratized portraiture, but what interests me are the specific technical demands. Consider the controlled hand, the pressure, and skill involved in producing the delicate textures on that enormous lace ruff. Think about the hours of labor etched into the metal. Curator: Exactly. These images became accessible due to printmaking's relatively efficient mode of reproduction. However, the image flattens her. It reinforces certain stereotypes rather than exploring her multifaceted persona. It solidifies a pre-conceived image in the viewer's mind, regardless of her actual personality. Editor: It's true that the texture becomes generalized through reproduction, but there’s also a beauty in the sheer skill involved in recreating something so ornate with just lines and careful gradations of tone. It elevates the craft and material as much as the image itself. Curator: And it also gives the subject…a queen nonetheless…a certain level of social authority. She gains authority simply by being depicted this way, as these portraits could solidify lineage, cement legacies, and propagate propaganda. Editor: Absolutely. It’s fascinating to see how social power dynamics can be materialized, quite literally, through such a painstaking, materially intensive practice. This is so much more than a simple picture; it's an assertion of class and artistry. Curator: It makes you really consider the politics embedded within image making. Editor: Indeed. Considering the craft enmeshed within this engraving and its historical impact changes our perception of its original context and effect.