Portret van Johannes Cocceius 1670 - 1713

Pieter Schenk made this portrait of Johannes Cocceius using mezzotint, a printmaking technique that allows for rich tonal range. Mezzotint begins with a copper plate roughened with tiny dots, creating a burr that holds ink. The printer then smooths areas to varying degrees, creating lighter tones. The darkest areas are left untouched, retaining the full burr. This process, working from dark to light, requires skill and patience. The resulting print has a velvety texture, with subtle gradations of light and shadow. You can see how Schenk used this to capture the details of Cocceius’s face and clothing. The soft tonal range gives the portrait a lifelike quality, highlighting the textures of fabric and hair. Mezzotint was labor-intensive, but it allowed for the mass production of images. This print not only immortalized Cocceius, but also circulated his image widely, playing a role in shaping his public persona. In this way, the material qualities and making of this artwork are essential to understanding its cultural impact.