Portret van Maximilien de Bethune, hertog van Sully 1796 - 1802

François Bonneville made this engraving of Maximilien de Bethune, the Duke of Sully. It is made on paper, using the incisive technique of engraving. Look closely, and you'll see the thousands of tiny marks that build up the image – lines and dots cut into a metal plate, which would then be inked and printed. The lines articulate the textures of the Duke’s clothing, from the ruff at his neck to the gleam of his armor. Engraving like this was a highly skilled trade. A master engraver could capture minute details and subtle gradations of light and shadow. But there’s a social dimension to the process, too. Engravings were relatively easy to reproduce. In contrast to a unique painting or sculpture, they democratized access to imagery. This portrait would have circulated widely, helping to solidify Sully’s image as a powerful figure. The art of engraving underscores that meaning is generated not just by the image itself, but by the way it's made, and the hands that made it.