Gezicht op de Porte Saint-Denis 1673 - 1695

Curator: Here we have Adam Perelle’s print, “Gezicht op de Porte Saint-Denis,” likely created between 1673 and 1695, rendered using etching and engraving techniques, now held in the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: The meticulous lines shaping the architecture create such a precise sense of depth. I'm immediately struck by the contrast between the grand gate and the busy street scene. It feels staged, theatrical almost. Curator: Indeed, and that sense of drama underscores the print’s function, a carefully crafted image aimed at solidifying the Sun King’s image. The etching medium itself becomes important—these prints would be circulated widely, functioning as propaganda celebrating Louis XIV's reign. Editor: But consider the gate itself. The formal symmetry, the rounded arch, the bas-relief details… Perelle guides the eye upwards. The composition is designed to inspire awe; it speaks of power. Curator: And to analyze the materiality further, look closely at the marks and indentations used to build tone, and note that the baroque style blends high ideals with depictions of common workers. We have merchants, carts and everyday labor happening within this glorification of king and country. Editor: True, and yet these laborers serve the grand design of this archway. Their placement emphasizes scale, making the architecture seem even more monumental. The figures also serve a narrative function. We are, as viewers, participating in civic life! Curator: So, by looking at both the technical execution of printmaking, combined with subject and labor in this piece, we start to get at the purpose for which this art was made—a function served beyond aesthetics, directly involved in labor and material practices. Editor: Absolutely. By looking closer at formal design choices and the way the etching uses structure and light, we realize this artwork attempts a powerful message!