Portret van Frederik Adolph van der Marck 1791

Reinier Vinkeles made this portrait of Frederik Adolph van der Marck using etching and engraving, both printmaking techniques that rely on incision. See how the image is built from a dense network of finely cut lines? The artist would have first coated a metal plate with wax, then drawn through it with a needle to expose the metal. This is then submerged in acid, which bites into the metal wherever it’s exposed. For engraving, the artist would use a tool called a burin to directly cut lines into the metal. Printmaking like this was a highly skilled, laborious process, demanding years of training. Yet, because it allowed images to be reproduced, it also played a key role in the distribution of information and the development of public opinion. Etchings and engravings, like this one, democratized images, making them accessible to a wider audience beyond the wealthy elite who could afford original paintings. This print then is not just a portrait, but a product of a changing social and economic landscape.