Pierre Payen 1659

Curator: Here we see Robert Nanteuil’s portrait of Pierre Payen, created sometime during Nanteuil's career, which spanned much of the 17th century. Editor: It's striking, isn’t it? The textures, especially in Payen's robes, suggest a real attention to the weight and drape of the fabric itself. You can almost feel the materiality. Curator: Absolutely. Nanteuil worked during a period of intense religious and political upheaval. Consider Payen’s role within the church—how his identity and position intersected with the power structures of the time. Editor: And look at the precision of the engraving. Nanteuil clearly understood the labor involved. Each line meticulously placed...it speaks to a whole system of production and consumption. Curator: It does invite us to question the accessibility of such images, and how they helped shape societal perceptions of religious figures. Editor: The craft elevates the subject but also renders him into an object, doesn’t it? Curator: True. We gain insight into both the sitter and the social forces at play in that era. Editor: Definitely. It all comes back to the way things are made.