Portret van Samuel Thomas Sömmering 1787 - 1825

This is a portrait of Samuel Thomas Sömmering, made by Friedrich Wilhelm Bollinger. It's an etching, a printmaking technique that involves using acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The etching process, with its reliance on both technical skill and chemical reactions, has a character all its own. Look at the fine lines that define Sömmering's face and clothing. The quality of the etched line gives the portrait its distinctive texture and tonal range. Bollinger would have carefully controlled the depth and width of each line, building up the image layer by layer. Etching was a popular medium for portraiture at this time, because it allowed for the relatively easy reproduction of images, making them accessible to a wider audience. Ultimately, understanding the material and process by which this portrait was created, gives us insight into the artist’s craftsmanship, and the broader social and economic context of image-making in the 18th and 19th centuries.