Portret van Franciscus Strijp 1620 - 1666

Philip Fruytiers made this portrait of Franciscus Strijp, a 'minor brother' aged 64, using engraving. Look closely and you’ll notice the density of fine lines, all incised into a copper plate. The resulting print is a testament to skilled labor, typical of the period, and required immense patience. These prints were commercial objects, requiring significant planning and labor, a far cry from the idea of the singular artwork we prize today. Notice the contrast between the sitter’s face and his dark robes, achieved by varying the intensity and direction of the engraved lines. Fruytiers likely used burins and other specialized tools to achieve such crisp detail. The inscription beneath the image is another element that depended on careful craft, not unlike the work of a typesetter in a printing press. By considering the skills involved in printmaking, we can better appreciate the broad culture of making that flourished in the 17th century.