A. P. Bernstorff 1793

Gerhard Ludvig Lahde made this print of A. P. Bernstorff using etching, around 1790. Etching is an intaglio printmaking method. The artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. They then scratch an image into this ground with a needle, exposing the metal underneath. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. This process is repeated to deepen the lines, which will hold the ink. Finally, the plate is inked, the surface wiped clean, and the print is made. The etched lines create a sharp contrast between the black silhouette of Bernstorff and the surrounding white paper. This austere, graphic style suited the purpose of portraiture in an era before photography. Yet, the labor-intensive process involved – from preparing the plate to carefully controlling the acid bath – speaks to the value placed on craft and skill in the late 18th century. This was a time when the hand-made still held sway, even as industrialization began to transform production. This portrait, therefore, is more than just an image; it's a record of a specific set of artistic and social conditions.