Portret van John King 1615 - 1622

This print of John King, Bishop of London, was made by Simon van de Passe, likely in the 1620s, using the intaglio process. Intaglio refers to printing methods in which an image is incised into a surface. This plate was made of metal, likely copper, into which the design was cut using a tool called a burin, or through an etching process using acid. The sharp, precise lines define King’s features and garments, which are enlivened by subtle gradations of tone and texture, achieved by careful control of the cutting and inking. Notice the crispness of the lettering around the oval frame. The production of prints like this one was a key element in the rise of visual culture. This image would have served to promote King’s stature and authority, and, by extension, the Church of England. But it is also an early example of mechanical reproduction, an industry based on skilled labor and the circulation of images to a growing consumer market. In this way, the print embodies the complex interplay of artistic skill, religious authority, and commercial enterprise.