Portret van Karel X Gustaaf van de Palts-Zweibrücken 1649

This is a portrait of Charles X Gustav of Sweden, made around 1649 by Jeremias Falck. It's an engraving, meaning the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, then printed onto paper. Look closely and you'll see how the artist has used a vocabulary of fine lines and dots to create an illusion of tone. The varying density of these marks gives form to Charles's face, his flowing hair, and the gleaming armour. The choice of engraving, a meticulous and time-consuming process, speaks to the status of the sitter. It’s a medium that requires great skill, often passed down through workshops, connecting it to a broader history of craft traditions. The resulting print, of which many copies could be made, would have served as a form of propaganda, disseminating the King's image and reinforcing his power. So, think about the relationship between this intricate, hand-made process, and its purpose in the theater of state. It's a fascinating blend of artistry, labor, and political messaging.