Portret van Johann Christian Friedrich Scherf 1789

This is an engraving of Johann Christian Friedrich Scherf, made by J.S.L. Halle in the 18th century. Engraving is an intaglio process: the artist incises a design into a metal plate, then ink is applied and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. The plate is then pressed onto paper, transferring the image. This method allowed for detailed and precise lines, seen in the delicate rendering of Scherf's face and clothing. The medium lends itself well to portraiture, as it can capture fine details and textures, lending an air of refinement to the subject. The fact that this image was engraved speaks to the status of the sitter – a physician and medical advisor. The use of engraving, as opposed to other more direct and immediate graphic techniques, speaks to the value placed on precision, care, and, well, a certain degree of artifice. The finished print, crisp and clean, is a testament to the skills involved. It collapses the distinction between art, craft, and industry.