Portret van Thomas Coke c. 1767 - 1780

This is Valentine Green's portrait of Thomas Coke, made using mezzotint, a printmaking technique that flourished in the 18th century. With mezzotint, the artist creates tone by roughening the entire plate with a tool called a rocker, then smoothing areas to create lighter tones. This tonal range gives the print a painterly quality, softening the edges and details of Coke's figure. Think about the labor involved: meticulously preparing the metal plate, and then carefully manipulating its surface. This was a highly skilled process, requiring years of training. The resulting print could be reproduced, making images more widely accessible. In this way, mezzotint sits at the intersection of craft and industry, reflecting a society that was rapidly changing due to new technologies. The very act of creating the artwork embodies the tensions between elite culture and mass production. By appreciating the material processes behind this image, we can see how it represents both artistic skill and broader social forces.