Portret van Johann Wilhelm Widmann 1735

This portrait of Johann Wilhelm Widmann was made in 1735 by Johann Wilhelm Windter using engraving, a printmaking technique with a long history. Engraving involves cutting lines into a metal plate, inking the plate, and then transferring the image onto paper under great pressure. The engraver uses a tool called a burin to create precise, clean lines. Notice the fineness of detail here, from the sitter’s elaborate wig, to the folds of his coat, and the delicate rendering of his facial features. This was skilled work, demanding years of practice to master. The engraver had to have not only artistic talent, but also a deep understanding of materials and processes. Engravings like this were often commissioned as prestige items, functioning somewhere between portraiture and early forms of photography. They give us insight into the labor involved in image-making before industrialization. Thinking about the material process helps us appreciate the artistry involved, and challenges our assumptions about art and craft.