Portret van Wolfgang Melchior Stisser 1709

Johann Georg Beck’s “Portret van Wolfgang Melchior Stisser” is an engraving, printed on paper. Engraving is a labor-intensive intaglio process, where the artist meticulously cuts lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The crisp, precise lines of the portrait speak to Beck's skill with the burin, the specialized tool used for engraving. The textures of the face, the elaborate wig, and the sitter’s clerical robes are all evoked through careful control of line weight and density. The social context of the work is also apparent. This print would have been made in multiples and circulated, thereby publicizing Stisser’s image and accomplishments. The very act of creating and distributing such an image underscores the cultural importance of portraiture as a tool for establishing identity and projecting power. Ultimately, the meaning of this work lies not only in its aesthetic qualities but also in the processes of its making and its role within a wider system of social and economic exchange.