Portret van Alexander de la Faille 1676 - 1719

This is Adriaen Lommelin’s ‘Portret van Alexander de la Faille,’ made as an engraving. This is a printmaking technique where the design is incised on a metal plate, and then used to make impressions on paper. Notice the astonishing level of detail that Lommelin has achieved. This was acquired through meticulous labor, using a tool called a burin to carve lines into the copper plate. The depth and proximity of these etched lines create the illusion of shadow and texture, defining the senator’s features and clothing. Consider the amount of time and skill it would take to produce such a portrait. The time taken is significant, given the wider social context. Printmaking enabled the relatively swift reproduction of images and the wider distribution of knowledge and status. In this way, the medium is very much the message. Engravings like this one were not just representations but active participants in constructing identity and solidifying social hierarchies. By understanding the material processes involved, we can gain a deeper appreciation of its cultural significance.