Portret van Johan van Drenckwaert 1606

This is “Portret van Johan van Drenckwaert”, made by Wierix around the turn of the 17th century, using the technique of engraving. Engraving is an intaglio process, meaning that the image is incised into a metal plate, ink is applied, and then the surface is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the recessed lines. The plate is then pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Look closely, and you'll see the crisp, precise lines that define the Treasurer. But this wasn't just a technical exercise; it was also a social one. Wierix was a master printmaker in Antwerp, a center of commerce. Prints like this were made for a growing market of collectors and served to disseminate images widely, contributing to the formation of public opinion and collective memory. In this context, consider the labor involved. The engraver's skill, the printer's craft, and the paper maker’s industry all played a role in bringing this image to life. This was an early form of mass media, connecting people through shared visual culture. When we consider this print, we appreciate the intersection of art, craft, and the burgeoning culture of capitalism.