Portret van Sebastiaan I van Portugal 1561

This print of King Sebastian of Portugal was made around 1561 by Frans Huys using the technique of engraving. This meticulous process involves carefully cutting lines into a metal plate, inking the surface, and then using a press to transfer the image onto paper. The impact of the image relies entirely on the vocabulary of line. Notice how the varying density and thickness of lines are used to create a tonal range, from the deep shadows behind the king to the bright highlights on his face and clothing. Consider also the labor involved in creating such a detailed image through the repetitive action of cutting lines into metal, especially when creating images in series. Engraving was a key technology for disseminating images in the early modern period, and the global reach of Portugal’s empire, referenced in the inscription, would have relied on such methods of reproduction. Appreciating this portrait therefore involves thinking about the broader social and economic forces that gave rise to it, as much as the skill of the artist.