Portret van Matthew Sylvester 1670 - 1725

This portrait of Matthew Sylvester was made by Michiel van der Gucht, likely in the late 17th or early 18th century. It’s an engraving – a print pulled from a metal plate. The process begins with a highly polished sheet of copper. Using a tool called a burin, the artist incises lines directly into the surface. These lines hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under great pressure. Look closely, and you can see how the density of lines creates shading and form. The clean, precise nature of the engraving technique lends itself well to portraiture, ideal for capturing the likeness and character of the sitter. Engraving was a painstaking craft, requiring years of training to master. It existed in a complex relationship with the rise of capitalism. On the one hand, prints like this one were luxury goods, purchased by wealthy patrons. On the other hand, the medium also served as a form of mass communication, circulating images and ideas widely. So, the next time you see an engraving, remember that it is not only a picture, but also an artifact of labor and social exchange.