Portret van de waterbouwkundige Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater 1822 - 1845

This is an undated portrait of Jan Adriaanszoon Leeghwater, the famous Dutch hydraulic engineer. It was made using engraving, a printmaking technique that involves cutting lines into a metal plate, inking the plate, and then pressing it onto paper. The engraver has skillfully used fine lines to capture Leeghwater's likeness, and the subtle gradations of tone give the portrait a sense of depth and volume. But it's not just the subject that's interesting here, it's also the process. Engraving was a highly skilled craft, requiring years of training to master the techniques of line-making and shading. The tools and techniques are not dissimilar from that of a goldsmith. This portrait is more than just a likeness, it’s also a testament to the engraver's skill, and to the value placed on technical expertise in Dutch society. It reminds us that even the most seemingly straightforward images are the result of complex processes and skilled labor. The contrast between the subject's work of drainage, and the engraver's process of creation, serves to collapse the traditional distinction between craft and fine art.