Jean-Jacques Rousseau c. 18th century

Editor: This is Étienne Ficquet’s portrait of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The printmaking process is fascinating, all those delicate lines. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, consider the labor involved in such meticulous engraving. Each line, a deliberate act. The print becomes a commodity, reproducing Rousseau’s image for a wider audience, a product tied to both artistic skill and societal demand. Editor: So, you're saying the image itself, and its message, are tied to the means of its production? Curator: Precisely. The availability of such a print allowed for broader engagement with Rousseau’s ideas, making him a figure of public consumption. It’s all connected. Editor: That gives me a lot to consider, thinking about the context in which it was made. Thanks.