Portret van Karel X Possibly 1829

Charles Turner made this mezzotint portrait of Charles X, King of France, sometime in the early 19th century. Mezzotint is an intaglio printmaking process that relies on subtle gradations of tone rather than line. To make it, the metal plate is first roughened evenly, creating a surface that would print as solid black. The image is then created by selectively burnishing or scraping away the burr, allowing for controlled areas of gray and white. Here, the use of mezzotint lends itself particularly well to the depiction of luxurious fabrics and elaborate military garb. Look at the deep, velvety blacks in the background drapery, and the way the light catches the gold embroidery. It’s all about surface effects and the appearance of wealth and power. Consider the immense labor involved in creating a mezzotint. Every mark you see on the print was first carefully considered and precisely executed on the plate. And remember, prints like this were made to be disseminated widely, spreading the image of Charles X throughout the realm. By understanding the process, we can appreciate how the image was intended to work as propaganda.