Portret van Stephanus Johannes van Geuns, versie A 1796

Reinier Vinkeles made this portrait of Stephanus Johannes van Geuns using engraving, a printmaking technique, sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. To create an engraving like this, an artist uses a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, usually copper. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling the carved lines, and the surface is wiped clean. When paper is pressed against the plate, it picks up the ink from the grooves, transferring the image. The fineness of the lines and the precision of the shading speak to Vinkeles’s skill and labor. Notice how the density of the lines creates areas of dark and light, defining the contours of van Geuns’s face and clothing. The technique allows for a high level of detail, capturing the textures of the hair and the intricate patterns in the clothing. Engravings like this were important means of disseminating images and knowledge in a pre-photographic age, playing a crucial role in shaping public perception and cultural memory. It’s a reminder that even seemingly simple images involve intricate processes and skilled craftsmanship.