Hyacinthe Rigaud c. 18th century

Curator: This is Étienne Ficquet’s engraving of Hyacinthe Rigaud, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. The level of detail is astounding, particularly the way he captures the textures of the sitter’s clothing and wig. Editor: Indeed, the details convey a sense of wealth and status. But I see more than that; Rigaud’s gaze seems to challenge the viewer, demanding respect, reflective of the power dynamics in 18th-century French society. Curator: Absolutely, and Ficquet was a master of capturing such nuances through the engraving process. The labor involved in creating these intricate lines, the consumption of prints like these by a specific social class... it all speaks to the networks of production and distribution of images. Editor: And networks of power! Rigaud himself was a portraitist favored by the French court. So, this image isn’t just about an individual; it reflects the larger structures of patronage, class, and representation of identity. Curator: Precisely. It is a material object embedded in a complex web of social relations. Editor: Exactly, an image that continues to speak volumes about that era, its social strata, and the ways in which identities were carefully constructed and disseminated.