Jean-Charles Parent c. 17th century

Editor: This engraving is a portrait of Jean-Charles Parent by Gérard Edelinck. The fine lines create such a sense of texture, especially in the subject’s hair. How would you interpret this work, thinking about Edelinck's process? Curator: The materiality of the engraving process itself is key. The labor-intensive act of carving these precise lines into the metal plate, the social status embedded in portraiture...all of this reflects 17th century modes of production and consumption. How does the print’s dissemination factor into its meaning? Editor: That’s fascinating. So, beyond just being a likeness, it's about how this image would have circulated and been consumed? Curator: Precisely. Considering the paper, ink, and printing techniques of the time, each impression becomes a material object, carrying social and economic weight. Editor: I hadn't considered the distribution aspect so deeply. Thanks! Curator: A pleasure!