Portret van Johann Caspar Füssli 1749 - 1782

Johann Elias Haid created this portrait of Johann Caspar Füssli, using the technique of mezzotint. This printmaking process involves roughening the entire plate first, then selectively burnishing areas to create lighter tones. The resulting image has a velvety texture, a range of tones achieved through laborious, mechanical work on the metal plate. Note how the densities of tone render the textures of Füssli’s wig and clothing. The material reality of ink on paper is transformed into the illusion of depth and volume, made possible through the skills of the printmaker, who skillfully manipulates the surface of the metal plate to capture the likeness of the sitter. Consider the social context of portraiture at the time. Printmaking allowed for the wider distribution of images, beyond the elite circles who could afford painted portraits. This portrait of Füssli serves as both an artistic representation and a means of disseminating his image to a broader audience. Recognizing the labor and techniques involved challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.