Victor Bouthillier 1651

Editor: This is Robert Nanteuil’s portrait of Victor Bouthillier. The medium seems to be printmaking. It's fascinating how the artist managed to get so many details. How do you approach this piece? Curator: Well, I immediately consider the economic and social implications of printmaking in the 17th century. Who had access to this portrait, and how did its production impact Nanteuil's status as an artist versus, say, a painter? Editor: That's interesting. I was focusing on the artistic skill involved. Curator: But the *means* of production shaped the art itself, and the public's relationship to it. Think of the paper, the ink, the press—each element with its own history and value. What can we learn about consumption and accessibility through the material? Editor: I never considered it from that perspective. Curator: Hopefully you will from now on.