Portret van Joris van Son 1649 - 1694

This is Conrad Lauwers' portrait of Joris van Son, made around the mid-17th century through engraving. Engraving is an intaglio process, meaning the image is cut into a surface, in this case a copper plate. Using a tool called a burin, the artist would have meticulously carved lines into the metal. This labor-intensive process contrasts with van Son’s identity as a painter, a profession gaining social status at the time, though Lauwers himself was ennobled. Notice how the density and direction of the lines create areas of light and shadow, defining van Son’s face and the folds of his garments. Prints like this played a crucial role in disseminating images and ideas, acting as a form of visual currency in a rapidly changing world. They blur the lines between art, craft, and commerce. Considering the amount of work involved in the engraving, and the social status of both men, this portrait reveals the complex relationship between labor, skill, and representation in the 17th century.