Portret van Johannes Rulitius 1651 - 1701

Harmen de Mayer made this print of Johannes Rulitius, probably in the mid-17th century, using etching and engraving. Look closely and you’ll see how the quality of the etched and engraved lines, and the areas of tone they create, give the portrait its character. The textures of skin, hair, and fabric are all evoked through the skillful manipulation of the burin or etching needle. De Mayer uses the processes of etching and engraving to suggest both the likeness of the sitter, and the social position he occupies. These printing techniques, while requiring painstaking labor, were a crucial component of the early modern information economy. They enabled the relatively rapid production and distribution of images, fueling both the market for portraiture and the broader circulation of ideas. So, when you look at this print, consider not just the image it presents, but also the intricate and demanding processes that brought it into being. It reminds us that artistic expression is always interwoven with the technologies and economies of its time.