Portret van kardinaal Marzio Ginetti 1658

This portrait of Cardinal Marzio Ginetti was made by Etienne Picart, likely in the late 17th or early 18th century. It’s an engraving, a printmaking process that requires considerable skill. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines into a metal plate, probably copper. Ink is then applied to the plate, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the carved lines. The plate is then pressed onto a sheet of paper, transferring the image. Look closely, and you’ll see the remarkable detail achieved through this process – the texture of the Cardinal’s robes, the lines of his face, even the subtle shading that gives the portrait depth. Engraving was a key technology for disseminating images and knowledge. It allowed for the reproduction of images on a relatively large scale, making art more accessible. The level of skill required also speaks to a highly developed system of apprenticeship and workshop production, a world of skilled labor that often goes unacknowledged in art history. Recognizing the craft involved allows us to appreciate the art on a deeper level, and to consider its wider cultural impact.