Ancher Anchersen, biskop 1726

Andreas Reinhardt created this portrait of Bishop Ancher Anchersen in 1725, using engraving on a metal plate. Look closely, and you can see the fine lines incised into the metal. Engraving is a meticulous process, requiring skilled hands to cut grooves into the plate with a tool called a burin. The plate is then inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised lines. When paper is pressed against the plate, the image is transferred. The quality of the print depends entirely on the engraver’s technique, their control of line, and their subtle gradations of tone. Prints like this one were relatively democratic in their time. Unlike unique paintings, many impressions could be made, allowing for wider distribution of imagery. Yet the labor-intensive process meant they weren't cheap. This image celebrates Anchersen, but it also embodies the complex interplay of craft, labor, and social status in 18th-century Denmark. It reminds us that even seemingly simple images are the result of skilled work, and reflect the values of their time.