Portret van Adriaen van Stalbemt 1734 - 1769

Jean-Baptiste Bichard created this portrait of Adriaen van Stalbemt using the technique of etching, sometime in the 1700s. Look closely, and you’ll see that the image is made from a multitude of tiny, deliberate lines. These were incised into a metal plate, which was then inked and pressed onto paper. The result is a print, which could be reproduced multiple times. This was quite a contrast to painting, which yielded only a single original image. Consider how the qualities of line and tone give the portrait its character. Etching lent itself well to replicating the texture of fabric and skin. This speaks to the significance of skilled labor, and its role in artistic production. The very nature of printmaking implies distribution. This meant that images could reach a wider audience than ever before. In this way, the print participates in the birth of modern media culture.