Lodewijk XVIII van Frankrijk in zijn studeerkamer in het Palais des Tuileries 1838 - 1848

Jean-Mathias Fontaine made this print of Louis XVIII in his study using etching and engraving, processes that demanded great skill. The image is built up from a dense mesh of lines, each one bitten into a metal plate with acid, or incised directly with a tool. Consider how this technique has been employed. A print like this was essentially a form of mass media at the time, requiring a division of labor in its production. Someone would need to prepare the plate, others to pull the prints, and still others to distribute them widely. It is a very different process from painting, in which the artist’s hand is directly present on the canvas. The print medium here creates a sense of distance, perfectly fitting for this image of Louis XVIII. While the depiction might suggest proximity to power, the method of production reveals the realities of labor, politics, and consumption in early 19th-century France. It reminds us that understanding the materials and processes used in art helps us grasp its full meaning.