François I c. 19th century

Editor: Here we have Jean Baptiste Louis Massard's engraving "François I." It's a small print, quite detailed. What can we say about the choices of materials and how they shape our understanding of the subject? Curator: Well, as an engraving, the image is produced through labor-intensive processes of etching and printing. Think about the social context: prints allowed for wider dissemination of images of power, like this portrait of François I. Editor: So, it’s not just about the king, but also about how his image was consumed? Curator: Precisely. The materiality of the print itself, its accessibility and reproducibility, democratized the image of the king, even while reinforcing his authority. Editor: Interesting! It really shifts the focus from the individual to the means of production and circulation. Curator: Exactly! It makes you consider the print as a commodity, not just a portrait.