Portret van Johannes Kinker c. 1793 - 1845

This is Frederik Christiaan Bierweiler's portrait of Johannes Kinker, made sometime in the early 19th century, using the technique of etching. Now, etching is a printmaking process, a method of cutting lines into a metal plate, inking those lines, and transferring them to paper. Here, we see Bierweiler’s skill in manipulating tone, creating depth and volume in Kinker’s face and clothing. But let's think about the social context. Etching was a relatively democratic medium, allowing for the reproduction of images at a lower cost than a unique painting. This opened up portraiture to a wider segment of society. Consider the labor involved, the skilled hands needed to create the plate, the paper-making process, and the printing itself. This portrait speaks to a burgeoning middle class, eager to participate in a visual culture previously reserved for the elite. Paying attention to materials and making helps us understand not only the image itself, but also the society that produced it.