Portret van de schilder Adriaen van Stalbemt Possibly 1630 - 1646

This is Paulus Pontius’s portrait of the painter Adriaen van Stalbemt, made using engraving, a printmaking technique. Here, a design is incised into a flat surface, traditionally a metal plate, and ink is then held in these lines. The image is transferred to paper under pressure, requiring a skilled hand and specialized tools. Notice how the crisp lines of the engraving define the textures and volumes, from the delicate lace collar to the sheen on the sitter’s draped cloak. Engraving has a long association with the dissemination of knowledge and artistic ideas. Prints like this allowed portraits to circulate widely, establishing the reputations of both the artist and the sitter. But beyond this, it is important to remember that printmaking relied on a division of labor: a design might be made by one artist, but executed on the plate by another, and printed by yet another. This commercial aspect is part of the story of the image, and reminds us of the broader economic context in which art was produced. By appreciating the material and process, we recognize the diverse skills and social networks involved in its creation.