Robert Arnauld c. 17th century

Editor: This is Jean Morin's portrait of Robert Arnauld, from the 17th century. It’s an engraving, I think? The detail is amazing. What strikes you most about its creation? Curator: The engraving process itself is key. Consider the labor involved in meticulously carving those lines into the plate. This method of production, and the resulting multiplication of images, democratized portraiture to some extent. Editor: So it’s less about the sitter and more about the making? Curator: It's both! But we must analyze the material conditions that made this image, and its dissemination, possible. Think about the societal impact of reproducible imagery. Editor: I hadn't considered that aspect before. Thanks for pointing that out!