Portret van Robert, koning van Napels 1549 - 1575

Editor: This is a print called "Portret van Robert, koning van Napels" which roughly translates to "Portrait of Robert, King of Naples". It's an engraving, so a print, made sometime between 1549 and 1575. The level of detail given the medium is really fascinating. What aspects of the print stand out to you? Curator: The method of production itself, engraving, offers a valuable insight into the means of replicating imagery and therefore power in the Renaissance. Look closely. What does the act of producing this image imply for the engraver, for Robert, King of Naples, and for its prospective audience? Editor: That's a really interesting point. I hadn't thought about the implications of making multiple copies like that. Was this image intended for a specific audience, considering its scale and material? Curator: It's highly probable this portrait served as a reproducible symbol, a token traded amongst political or cultural circles. Consider how the labour and materials intertwine. Engraving wasn't cheap; its consumption meant someone, somewhere, commissioned it. What does this materiality and context suggest to you about King Robert's influence beyond just his regal position? Editor: It's starting to feel less like a straightforward portrait and more like an item for political consumption... almost like propaganda. It gives the image a lot more layers to consider, doesn't it? Curator: Exactly. By investigating the material and the means of production, we unearth the complex network of social power interwoven within a seemingly simple portrait. The print isn't just about King Robert; it’s about the Renaissance systems that manufactured and sustained his image. Editor: I see. So analyzing its production reveals not only who he was, but also how his image was strategically used. Thanks, this perspective really shed light on how a single engraving can reflect the society that produced it.