Portret van Maria II, koningin van Portugal 1836

This portrait of Maria II, Queen of Portugal, was made by John Lucas using mezzotint, a printmaking technique. Mezzotint is a tonal process, capable of producing rich gradations of light and shadow. It involves roughening the entire surface of a copper plate with a tool called a rocker, then smoothing areas to create the image. The labor-intensive nature of mezzotint meant it was often used for reproducing paintings, and portraits in particular, making art accessible to a wider audience. Consider the social context of the print. It allowed for the mass dissemination of royal imagery, reinforcing notions of power and status. The very act of reproducing Maria's image democratized it, transforming the queen into a commodity within a burgeoning visual culture. Looking closely, you can appreciate the skill involved in manipulating the copper plate to create such a nuanced likeness. By valuing the labor and techniques embedded in its production, we recognize mezzotint as both a craft and a medium that challenges hierarchies between art forms.