Jean Mariette, Engraver 1723

Curator: We're now standing before Antoine Pesne’s “Jean Mariette, Engraver,” created in 1723 using oil paint. Editor: The contrast between the dark background and Mariette's powdered wig is striking. There is almost a sense of the figure emerging out of the gloom. Curator: Pesne has indeed masterfully used light here, typical of the Baroque, drawing our eye to Mariette’s face and hands, tools of his trade, so to speak. I’m particularly interested in the book Mariette rests his hand on. Editor: Absolutely, it carries significant weight, doesn't it? Beyond being just an object, that book speaks volumes. Consider the implied knowledge and craft it represents. Books and documents within portraits from this era often acted as signifiers of learning and status, and engraving as a means to reproduce and disseminate ideas. Curator: Indeed. And it hints at Mariette’s profession: the dissemination and preservation of visual and textual information, and knowledge which had economic value as engraved illustrations in books became increasingly sought after. How those prints circulated is a key part of cultural history, especially considering access to such items was usually reserved to certain circles. Editor: This makes one think of the image of the "scholar". But I'd be interested to know the types of ink or tools Mariette employed. Or even how the engraving workshop was structured. I want to get my hands dirty looking into the tangible details of his work. The finished print represents so much manual labor. Curator: The symbolic association of knowledge, production and societal power... Editor: It makes me appreciate Mariette’s skills. Thanks for that insightful perspective on the book's symbolism! Curator: Likewise, you brought forward an element I had not noticed before, the implications of the materials with which Mariette crafted his prints. I shall leave this portrait with a renewed appreciation for the power of this portrait.