Portret van Cornelis Claesz. Anslo en Aaltje Schouten 1781 - 1785

This print, made by Josiah Boydell, captures the likeness of Cornelis Claesz. Anslo and Aaltje Schouten. It was created using the method of mezzotint. Mezzotint is a painstaking process. The artist roughens the entire plate with a tool called a rocker, creating countless tiny burrs that, if printed at this stage, would produce a solid black tone. The image is then created by selectively burnishing or scraping away the burrs to produce lighter areas, with smooth areas producing pure white. The rich blacks and soft gradations of tone that distinguish mezzotints come from this labor-intensive preparation. This technique, though time-consuming, allowed for detailed replication and distribution of images, playing a crucial role in disseminating art and ideas. The textures and tones achieved through this process speak to the period's complex relationship with craft, industry, and the democratization of art. By valuing the skilled labor involved, we recognize the broader social and economic contexts that shaped its creation.