Smaak 1739

This print, titled "Smaak" or "Tasting," was created by Alexander van Haecken in the 18th century using a mezzotint technique. This printmaking process involves roughening a copper plate with a tool called a rocker, then smoothing areas to create lighter tones. The velvety texture and subtle gradations of light and shadow achievable through mezzotint lend themselves well to depicting skin and fabric. It's a labour-intensive process, demanding skill and precision. The softness of the medium gives this print the look of a chalk drawing. This one is a study in the sensuous—the textures of the skin and cloth, and especially, the implied taste of the fruit that the figure holds to her lips. Mezzotint was often used for reproducing paintings, making art accessible to a wider audience, and this print shows how a handmade process could participate in the developing culture of mass production and consumption. The image thus belongs to two worlds at once: the rarified realm of fine art, and the more down-to-earth world of getting and spending.