Portret van Hendrick Waninghen before 1624

This is a portrait of Hendrick Waninghen, made with an engraving by Christoffel van Sichem I. The printmaking process, particularly engraving, was closely tied to early capitalism. Consider how the crisp lines and the fine details are achieved. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate. This required immense skill and control. The plate would then be inked, and the excess wiped away, leaving ink only in the carved lines. Paper would be pressed against the plate, transferring the image. Printmaking allowed for the mass production of images, and the work involved in the production process led to wider distribution. This also led to an increased demand for skilled artisans who could produce high-quality prints like this one, blurring the lines between art and craft. It is in the materiality and the making process that we truly understand its cultural significance.