Portret van Albrecht Dürer I 1644

This portrait of Albrecht Dürer was made in 1644 by Wenceslaus Hollar, using etching, a printmaking technique. Hollar would have coated a metal plate with wax, then drawn this image of Dürer with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. The plate was then bathed in acid, which bit into the lines, and finally, the plate would have been inked and printed. The resulting image has a crisp precision, fitting for a portrait of Dürer, himself a master printmaker. Notice the fine lines which create tone and shadow, capturing the folds of his clothing, and the detail of his face. But Hollar was not only interested in Dürer's likeness; he was also advertising his own skill. Printmaking was not only a means of artistic expression but also a crucial technology in early modern Europe. It was a commercial activity, a means of disseminating images and information widely. Here, Hollar places himself in a lineage of artist-craftsmen, while also demonstrating his mastery of a valuable trade.