Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini c. 17th century

Curator: This engraving presents a portrait of Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini by Ottavio Leoni. I’m struck by the meticulous detail. Editor: Yes, you immediately notice the labor in the etching itself, the way the cross-hatching builds form from essentially industrial means. Curator: Precisely. And consider the social context: portraying Bernini, a sculptor, through the reproductive medium of print elevates his status and broadens access to his image. Editor: It almost domesticates him, doesn’t it? This isn't marble, but paper, something affordable that could circulate among patrons and artists alike. Curator: The image also subtly reinforces a hierarchy, with the inscription "Roman pictor fecit," underscoring Leoni’s role in creating the representation. Editor: An interesting detail to be sure. This print provides a fascinating glimpse into the artistic networks and the means of image production of the period. Curator: Agreed, an image that offers insights into production, labor, and fame. Editor: Indeed, a portrait mediated by materiality and the social frameworks within which it was made.