Portret van Guy-Crescent Fagon 1666 - 1707

Editor: Here we have Gérard Edelinck's "Portret van Guy-Crescent Fagon," an engraving dating sometime between 1666 and 1707, currently at the Rijksmuseum. The incredible detail, achieved solely through engraving, strikes me. What's your take on this print? Curator: This portrait offers a glimpse into the world of labor and consumption in 17th-century printmaking. Edelinck’s meticulous engraving – consider the sheer amount of time and skill needed to produce such a detailed likeness! It elevates printmaking beyond mere reproduction; the material process itself becomes a valuable commodity, reflecting Fagon's status through skilled labor. How does the print’s context change our perception of Fagon? Editor: It makes me think about accessibility. Was this portrait intended for a wide audience, or more exclusive circles? And how does that impact its message? Curator: Exactly! Consider the economic relationships embedded within. Who could afford such prints? Were they commissioned, creating a direct transaction between artist and patron, thus controlling how Fagon was consumed? How did the creation and distribution of this image support a whole network of labor, from the engraver to the paper makers and sellers? Editor: So, we’re not just looking at a portrait of a man, but at the economic and social forces that made the portrait possible. I'll definitely look at art with process more in mind now. Curator: Precisely! By examining the means of production, the material becomes just as important as the subject.