Portret van Johann Conrad Gottfried Wildermet 1733 - 1806

This portrait of Johann Conrad Gottfried Wildermet was made by Johann Rudolph Holzhalb, and we can see that it’s an engraving. Engraving is an intaglio process, meaning that the image is cut into a surface, likely a metal plate. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines into the plate, with the depth and thickness of these lines determining the darkness of the printed image. Ink is then applied to the plate and then wiped off the surface, remaining only in the incised lines. Finally, paper is pressed against the plate, transferring the ink and creating the print. The result is a precise, linear image with a distinctive quality. Consider the level of skill and labor needed to execute such a portrait. Engravings like this were a key way of disseminating images and information in the 18th century, contributing to the growing print culture and public sphere. It's a reminder that even seemingly straightforward portraits can tell us a lot about the social and economic context of their creation.