Portret van paus Innocentius XII 1691 - 1724

Jacob Gole created this portrait of Pope Innocent XII in Amsterdam, using the technique of Mezzotint. Mezzotint is a printmaking process, one of the first tonal methods used to create images. It relies on roughening the surface of a copper plate with a tool called a rocker, before using a burnisher and scraper to create smooth areas that will hold less ink. The velvety blacks and subtle gradations of tone speak to the laborious process involved. This was a highly skilled and time-consuming method, requiring complete mastery to capture the likeness and character of the Pope. The choice of mezzotint also carries social significance. It was a popular method for reproducing portraits and other images for a wider audience during the 17th and 18th centuries. As such, Gole’s print situates the Pope within a network of production and consumption, and contributed to constructing his public image. By understanding the material and the making of this print, we gain insight into the complex interplay between art, craft, and society in the early modern world.