Portret van Ove Høegh-Guldberg 1782

Johan Frederik Clemens created this portrait of Ove Høegh-Guldberg using engraving, a printmaking technique. Engraving is an intaglio process, meaning the image is cut into a surface, in this case a metal plate. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines into the metal, creating recesses that hold ink. The plate is then inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the engraved lines. Finally, paper is pressed against the plate, transferring the ink to create the print. Consider the labor involved in creating this image. The fine lines and details, the subtle gradations of tone – all speak to the engraver’s skill and patience. This wasn't a quick process; it required careful planning and meticulous execution. Engravings like this one were often commissioned as a way to disseminate images and information, acting as a kind of early form of mass media. The choice of engraving as a medium speaks to the desire for precision and permanence, mirroring the sitter's own status and aspirations. So, next time you look at an engraving, remember the skill, time, and social context embedded in its very making.