Lachende man met een hoed 1670 - 1800

Jacob Gole created this mezzotint titled "Laughing Man with a Hat," sometime between 1660 and 1737. The mezzotint technique is really interesting. It involves roughening the entire copper plate with a tool called a rocker, creating a burr that, if printed at this stage, would produce a solid black image. The artist then smooths out areas of the plate to varying degrees. The smoother the area, the less ink it holds, resulting in lighter tones when printed. Gole's skill is evident in the subtle gradations of tone, from the deep shadows that define the man's form to the delicate highlights on his face and hat. Notice the velvety texture achieved through this method, especially in the dark background. Mezzotint allowed for the creation of rich tonal effects that were difficult to achieve with other printmaking techniques, and this one really leans into that effect. It speaks to the artist's mastery and the time-intensive nature of the process. It is easy to overlook the amount of labor that went into the making of it. Ultimately, understanding the materials and processes behind artworks like this enriches our appreciation and challenges traditional hierarchies of art and craft.