Portret van François Lefort 1755 - 1765

Dominique Sornique made this portrait of François Lefort in the 18th century using engraving. Engraving is a printmaking technique where the artist incises an image onto a metal plate, which is then inked and used to create prints on paper. The fine lines and detailed shading you see here are achieved by carefully cutting into the metal, a labor-intensive and highly skilled process. Each print pulled from the plate would have been identical, reflecting the early stages of mass production. Although in this case, this image commemorates a member of the elite, engraving was often used to disseminate information and images to a broader audience, marking a shift in visual culture. Consider the labor and skill involved in creating this image, contrasting with the ease of reproduction. It challenges our typical notions of fine art, urging us to appreciate the artistry embedded in reproductive processes.