Portret van François Combesis 1696 - 1700

Editor: So, this is "Portrait of François Combesis" made between 1696 and 1700 by Jacques Lubin. It's an engraving on paper held at the Rijksmuseum. I'm struck by the detail achieved with just line work. What draws your eye to this piece? Curator: What intrigues me is the entire *process* here: the labour, the deliberate marks making up the engraving. This wasn't just about capturing a likeness, but also showcasing a level of artisanal skill and, ultimately, consuming paper resources, even creating hierarchy, right? It raises questions: who was Combesis, what social forces were at play that allowed his image to be widely circulated? How does it challenge, even disrupt, our common view about art being only an aesthetic expression? Editor: That’s interesting. So you are saying it is more than just capturing this man's likeness, and it actually provides insight on historical resource consumption? Curator: Exactly. Look at the lines – think of the effort and the social status imbued within these carefully placed engravings. Engraving allows for reproduction and mass distribution. Who was the consumer? Was this circulated to members of a certain society and what statement was being made upon its receiving? Editor: The idea of an engraving, normally displayed in private collections and museums, circulated and reproduced to spread ideals is actually surprising to consider. I never thought about this amount of work involved to create an engraving like this, especially when thinking of labour hours required in the pre-industrial revolution times! Curator: And it makes us think about the role of the artist, not just as a creator of beauty, but as a craftsman embedded in a socio-economic system that also allows consumption! It provides another window into this historical period by re-considering an artwork under a new perspective of means of production and labor, allowing one to re-appreciate it as more than art!