Portret van Johannes Juncker 1729

This is Martin Bernigeroth’s portrait of Johannes Juncker, created using engraving, sometime between 1685 and 1733. Engraving is an intaglio process, meaning the image is incised into a surface, in this case, a metal plate. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to cut lines into the plate, a laborious process demanding great skill. Ink is then applied to the entire plate, and then wiped away, leaving ink only in the incised lines. The plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Look closely, and you can see the extraordinary fineness of the lines, especially in Juncker's elaborate wig. The density of the lines creates areas of tone and shadow, defining the forms. Consider the labour involved in making this portrait – the time spent cutting each line, the skill required to render such detail. Engravings like this played an important role in disseminating images and knowledge at this time. They were a form of mass production, making art accessible to a wider audience, a world away from the unique, hand-painted portraits of the elite.