Portret van Maximiliaan van Hessen-Kassel 1708

Around 1705, Pieter Schenk created this portrait of Maximiliaan van Hessen-Kassel using the intaglio printmaking technique of etching. Look closely and you'll see a network of fine, deliberate lines incised into a metal plate, then printed. Unlike a drawing, each line here required the focused labor of a skilled etcher. The result is an image of subtle tonal gradations. Notice the way light plays across Maximiliaan's armor, and the plush texture of his fur stole. Beyond its aesthetic qualities, this print offers insight into the social and economic landscape of the time. Printmaking allowed for the mass production of images, democratizing access to portraiture, but also requiring a complex division of labor and production. From the mining of the metals for printing to the work of the printers, the making of this print involved many hands. By understanding the labor and materiality involved, we appreciate the full story this print tells, challenging distinctions between art, craft, and industry.