Buste van een jonge man met lauwerkrans, naar links 1646 - 1670

This print, by Hubert Quellinus, depicts a bust of a young man with a laurel wreath. It was made using engraving, a printmaking technique in which lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and used to create an image on paper. The material qualities of the engraving process—the sharp lines, the contrast between light and shadow—lend the artwork a precise and formal quality that speaks to the neoclassical style. This precision reflects the artist's careful labour and the technical skill required to create such detailed work. The choice of engraving, with its capacity for repeatability, speaks to a growing market for images in the 17th century and a desire to disseminate classical ideals more widely. Consider how the tradition of printmaking helped to democratize art, making it more accessible to a broader audience, and connecting the skilled labor of the artist to wider social and economic forces.