Portret van Johannes Jacobus Vitriarius 1731 - 1780

This is Jacob Houbraken’s portrait of Johannes Jacobus Vitriarius, rendered in the intricate medium of engraving. It is a print, made by incising lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Notice the extraordinary detail, achieved through a network of fine lines and cross-hatching. These marks create tone and texture, bringing Vitriarius to life with remarkable presence. The engraver's skill lies in their ability to translate visual information into a language of lines. This was a laborious, highly skilled craft, situated within a complex system of production. Printmaking allowed for the mass dissemination of images, contributing to the growth of visual culture and, of course, solidifying Vitriarius’s public image. Consider the social context: Houbraken's expertise was essential to disseminating images and ideas in an era before photography. By appreciating the labor and skill involved in this process, we can see how craft and fine art were deeply intertwined, and how both were connected to broader networks of labor, politics, and consumption.