Mogens Heinesen 1779 - 1781

This print of Mogens Heinesen was made by J.F. Clemens, using a process known as engraving. Here, a design is incised into a metal plate – traditionally copper – and then inked and printed. The sharp, precise lines you see are a testament to the engraver's skill. Look closely, and you will see how the varying density of these lines creates tone and texture. This print features a pillar, and what looks like a broken rudder or a ship's timber, bound together. These elements speak to Heinesen's life as a naval hero. The print, as a multiple, also speaks to the democratizing effects of the medium, offering broader access to commemorative imagery. Consider the labor and time invested in creating the matrix for this print, a testament to Clemens’s craft. Recognizing the value of that process allows us to appreciate the print not just as an image, but also as a product of skilled work, and a cultural artifact in its own right.