Le Roi Alphonse c. 19th century

Editor: This is "Le Roi Alphonse" by Jean-Michel Moreau, an engraving at the Harvard Art Museums. I'm struck by the detailed rendering of the clothing. What can you tell me about the significance of the materials and production here? Curator: This print gives us a glimpse into 18th-century social structures through its very means of production. Engravings like this were vital for disseminating information and ideas. Consider the labor involved: the engraver, the printer, the distributors. What kind of access did different social classes have to such imagery? Editor: That’s fascinating! It really shifts my perspective from just looking at the figures to thinking about the whole system behind creating and sharing the image. Curator: Exactly! It’s not just about the king, but the entire material and economic web that brings his image to the masses.