Portret van Henry Bennett, graaf van Arlington 1708 - 1766

Jacob Houbraken created this print of Henry Bennett, Earl of Arlington, using engraving, a process of cutting lines into a metal plate, then inking and pressing it onto paper. Look closely, and you can see that the image is built up from a dense matrix of tiny lines. The engraver’s skill lay in controlling the depth and direction of these marks, creating the illusion of light and shadow. Think of the time and labor it took to render the Earl’s flowing wig, his lace collar, and the texture of his coat, all through the controlled action of a hand-held burin. Printmaking was a key technology in early modern Europe, allowing images to be reproduced and disseminated widely. While oil paintings were exclusive to the wealthy, prints made art accessible, and helped to shape public opinion. This portrait, therefore, is not just an image of an elite individual, but a testament to the power of skilled craft in shaping culture and society.