Portret van Niklaas van Berk 1858 - 1860

This is Jan Frederik Christiaan Reckleben's portrait of Niklaas van Berk, made with etching and engraving. The printmaking techniques are far from painting. Here, the material nature of the metal plate and the incisive lines etched into it dictate the artwork's aesthetic. Notice the precision and detail achieved through controlled marks, creating textures and tones with the cross-hatching. The process involves coating a metal plate with wax, drawing through it to expose the metal, and then bathing the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. Ink is then forced into these lines, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Each print is a result of labor-intensive work, requiring skill and control. The lines suggest a connection between craft traditions and fine art, showing how the social and economic conditions influenced the artistic practice.