Portret van Andreas Hadik von Futak 1789

Quirin Mark made this portrait of Andreas Hadik von Futak using etching, a printmaking technique, sometime around the turn of the 19th century. To make an etching, a metal plate is coated in a waxy, acid-resistant substance. The artist then scratches an image into this coating, exposing the metal beneath. Next, the plate is submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed metal, creating recessed lines. The longer the plate sits in the acid, the deeper the lines. Finally, the plate is inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. When paper is pressed against the plate, the ink transfers, creating a print. The precision and detail achieved in this print—look at the texture of the feathers and the intricate lettering—demonstrates the engraver’s mastery. The many stages and tools involved in etching meant that it was primarily practiced by skilled professionals.