Cardinal Jules Mazarin

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with a serious face and a short, curly wig. He’s wearing a high collar and a chain around his neck, maybe a symbol of power. The background is plain, but the edges of the oval frame have swirling lines that look like they’re carved into the print. The tiny shield at the bottom has a coat of arms, which often shows family or status. This print was made by cutting into metal—a process called *engraving*—to create the lines and shading. Want to see how artists used this technique? Look up engraving.