Portret van Sigmund Feyerabend 1569

Jost Amman made this print of Sigmund Feyerabend, a prominent sixteenth-century publisher, using etching and engraving techniques. Amman worked into a metal plate, likely copper, using a combination of methods. For the fine details and tonal shading, acid would have been used to bite into the metal. The more assertive lines would have been cut directly into the plate with a tool called a burin. You can see the crispness of these engraved lines, especially in the lettering that surrounds the central portrait. The printmaking process was complex and required great skill. This was labor-intensive work. The final image would have been the result of time and knowledge from multiple people. The publisher, whose portrait we see here, was also an integral part of this commercial chain, connecting artist and audience. By considering the material and social processes behind this print, we appreciate how artistic creation and commerce were closely intertwined.