Portret van Hugues de Saint-Martial 1660

Etienne Picart made this print, "Portret van Hugues de Saint-Martial," sometime between 1632 and 1721, using the intaglio process. This involved meticulously incising lines into a metal plate, inking the surface, then wiping it clean so the ink remained only in the grooves. The plate would then be pressed against a sheet of paper, transferring the image. The crisp, precise lines of the portrait speak to the skill and labor-intensive nature of this technique, where every detail—from the subject's facial features to the intricate folds of his robes—had to be carved by hand. The intaglio process allowed for the creation of multiple impressions, making art more accessible to a wider audience. Prints like this offer insight into the social and cultural context of the time, reflecting the growing demand for images and information, but also the role of skilled craft in their production. By looking closely at the materials and making of the print, we recognize it not just as a portrait, but also as a product of human skill, labor, and the changing dynamics of art production.