Portret van Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre c. 1830 - 1880

This is a portrait of Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre by M.C. Khonraad, and it's made using a printmaking technique. The delicate lines and tonal variations suggest it might be an etching or engraving. These processes involve carefully incising an image into a metal plate, inking the plate, and then using a press to transfer the image onto paper. The quality of the lines speaks to the skill of the artist, who would have needed to master the tools and techniques of printmaking to achieve this level of detail. The softness of the lines, and the subtle gradations of tone, would have required a deep understanding of the properties of ink and paper. Printmaking has a fascinating social history; traditionally, it was a commercial activity that made images widely available, and democratized image consumption. Considering the materials and processes behind this print, it encourages us to think about the labor involved, and the context in which images were produced and circulated. In doing so, it challenges traditional distinctions between art and craft.