Portret van Francesco Albani 1770 - 1826

This anonymous portrait of Francesco Albani was made using a printmaking technique that translates an original image into a series of fine lines. Notice how the artist used the material qualities of ink and paper to define Albani's likeness. The controlled lines create subtle tonal variations, giving depth to his face and clothes. But it's the process of engraving, probably etching, that really defines the image. Each line is physically incised into a metal plate, and then filled with ink, which is transferred to paper under immense pressure. The resulting print is one of many. In that sense, it perfectly reflects the rise of a print culture, which made images more accessible and portable. This technique democratized art. It detached images from the unique hand of the artist, but it also introduced new networks of labor and distribution. Paying attention to materials and modes of production, like printmaking, allows us to understand the wider social and cultural contexts that shape the art of the day, questioning our traditional views about art history.