Portret van kardinaal Flavio Chigi 1771 - 1781

This print, housed at the Rijksmuseum, is a portrait of Cardinal Flavio Chigi, made by Giulio Cesare Bianchi using engraving techniques. Here, the artist incised lines into a metal plate – likely copper – which would then have been inked and printed onto paper. Look closely, and you can see the fineness of the lines, and the way that they create tone through hatching. This method allowed for the relatively easy reproduction of images, making them accessible to a wider audience than unique paintings. It’s important to consider the labor involved; engraving is a highly skilled and time-consuming process. The engraver's hand is evident in every line, a testament to their craft. Yet, the print also represents a step towards industrialization, a shift from handmade uniqueness to mechanical reproduction. By understanding the materials, the making, and the context of this print, we can appreciate its significance beyond just a portrait of a cardinal, and consider the social and economic forces at play.