Portret van Stefan Czarniecki 1643 - 1667

This portrait of Stefan Czarniecki was made in the 17th century by Adriaen Millaert, using engraving. This is an intaglio printmaking technique, where lines are incised into a metal plate, which then holds the ink and transfers the image to paper. The fine lines creating shading and detail show Millaert's skill with the burin, the tool used to carve into the metal. Note the labor involved. Each line is a deliberate cut, building up the image bit by bit. The texture of the paper also plays a role. The pressure of the printing press forces it into the engraved lines, picking up the ink. The resulting image is a testament to both the artist's technique and the sitter's status. This was before photography, and such an image was a means of preserving someone's legacy, spreading their image far and wide. In this way, printmaking democratizes art, making it accessible to a wider audience, but always reflecting power dynamics of labor and the materials involved in the production process.