Marc Bochart c. 17th century

Editor: Here we have Robert Nanteuil's "Marc Bochart," a portrait print held at the Harvard Art Museums. It has such fine lines. What can you tell me about its creation and meaning? Curator: Consider the labor involved in engraving such detail, the social status implied by commissioning a portrait. What materials were used, and how did their availability impact the image's dissemination? It's also important to examine who had access to these portraits. Editor: So, the value isn't just in the image, but also in the process and the social structure around it. That's something I hadn't considered. Curator: Exactly. Material conditions shape artistic expression.