Portretten van vier acteurs, staand in een landschap 1692 - 1734

Louis Desplaces made these miniature portraits of actors in a landscape using engraving, likely in the early 18th century. The engraver carves lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed to create the image. Look closely and you'll see how the fineness of the engraved lines creates subtle tonal variations, capturing details of costume, and character. This mode of production would have involved a highly skilled technician, part of a printmaking workshop. Printmaking existed as a critical component of the culture industry. These images of actors were made for distribution and consumption. They were part of a burgeoning system of celebrity culture. The work represents a fascinating intersection of artistic skill, commercial intent, and cultural representation. The material and the means of production are entirely inseparable from what the artwork is about.