Tekenaar met een inktpot en pen 1658 - 1677

Wallerant Vaillant made this mezzotint, *Draftsman with Ink Pot and Pen*, sometime in the mid-17th century. It shows a man in the intimate act of preparing to draw. The velvety quality of the print comes from the mezzotint process, which involves roughening a copper plate with a tool called a rocker, then selectively burnishing areas to create lighter tones. It is a labor-intensive process that allows for subtle gradations of light and shadow. The artist here is not only crafting an image, but also demonstrating his command of a demanding printing technique. Consider what it meant to depict this man, caught in a moment of preparation, with such care and labor. By focusing on the materials and processes of artmaking, Vaillant elevates the status of the artist and the tools of their trade. It blurs the lines between the subject depicted, and the act of depiction itself.