Statiekoets van de hertog van Ossuna, 1713 1714

This engraving by Bernard Picart, dating to 1713, depicts the state coach of the Duke of Ossuna, rendered with meticulous detail on paper. As an artwork of the 18th century, it reflects the values of craftsmanship and ornamentation that defined the period. Look at the intricate work involved. The Duke's coach becomes a display of wealth and power through the layering of motifs, figures, and symbols. While the print itself is relatively modest in its material presence, the carriage it depicts signals the apex of luxury. The original object would have necessitated the talents of numerous skilled artisans, from woodworkers and gilders to textile artists, all laboring to produce a vehicle that was as much a statement of social status as a mode of transportation. This image, therefore, is not just a record; it's an index of the vast social and economic machinery required to produce such an object, and of the hierarchical society that it served. By considering the labor and resources invested in its creation, we recognize the political dimensions embedded within this opulent artifact.