Portret van een onbekende kunstenaar 1771

This is Johann Andreas Benjamin Nothnagel's etching of an unknown artist, made in 1771. Nothnagel used etching, a printmaking technique that relies on acid to cut into a metal plate, in this case copper, which is then inked and printed. Look closely and you can see the fine lines that define the sitter's features and clothing. The etched lines create a sense of depth and texture. The process of etching demands careful planning and execution; each line is deliberate, requiring skillful manipulation of tools and materials. The act of printing multiplies the image, extending its reach beyond the unique work of art, and placing it into a wider social realm. By focusing on the materiality and methods of its production, we recognize that printmaking is not just a means of replicating images, but a cultural practice deeply embedded in society, labor, and consumption.