Frédéric-Maurice, Duc de Bouillon 1650 - 1660

This print of Frédéric-Maurice, Duc de Bouillon, was made in the 17th century by Robert Nanteuil. It's not drawn or painted, but created through engraving—a labor-intensive process of incising lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. Nanteuil was celebrated for his skill in capturing likenesses, and the subtle gradations of tone. But the medium itself speaks volumes about the social context. Printmaking allowed for the wide dissemination of images, playing a crucial role in shaping public perception. The fine lines and details speak to the engraver’s virtuosity, but also to the economics of image-making at the time. This was a luxury good, reflecting the wealth and power of the sitter, the Duc de Bouillon, and the skilled labor required to produce such a refined likeness. Consider how the very act of replicating images through mechanical means both democratized and commodified representation, blurring the lines between art, craft, and industry.