Maria Antonia, granduchessa di Toscana c. 19th century

Editor: This is Davide Testi's portrait of Maria Antonia, granduchessa di Toscana. It has such a formal feel. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Consider the printing process itself. The engraver's labor, the paper source, and the dissemination of this image all speak to power dynamics. How does the mass production of her image reinforce her status? Editor: So, it's less about her likeness and more about the act of making her image widely available? Curator: Precisely. The materiality and process are key to understanding its social function. It turns the portrait into a commodity. Editor: That is a perspective I hadn't considered. Thanks for making me look at it differently. Curator: My pleasure. It's important to remember that images are always made and consumed within a specific context.