René Descartes
1651 to 1700
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 25.1 x 19.6 cm (9 7/8 x 7 11/16 in.) sheet: 26.2 x 20.9 cm (10 5/16 x 8 1/4 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of John O'Brien
Accession Number
1987.70.1
Art Historical Context
This elegant engraving, titled *René Descartes*, captures likeness of the renowned French philosopher (1596–1650), often called the father of modern philosophy for his foundational ideas like "Cogito, ergo sum" ("I think, I am"). Created by Jacques Lubin, a skilled French engraver active in late 17th century the print dates to between 1651 and 1700—likely a posthumous tribute produced soon after Descartes' death in Sweden. Measuring a modest plate size of .1 x 19.6 cm on laid paper, it exemplifies the intimate scale of period portrait prints. Engraving on laid paper was a hallmark technique o...