Portret van Pierre du Puy 1696 - 1700

Jacques Lubin created this portrait of Pierre du Puy using engraving, a printmaking technique, in the late 17th century. Engraving is an intaglio process, meaning the image is incised into a surface. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to cut lines into a copper plate. The depth and thickness of these lines determine the tones and details of the final print. Ink is then applied to the plate, pushed into the grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the image is transferred to paper under high pressure. Engraving was a highly skilled craft, demanding precision and control. The resulting prints, like this portrait, allowed for the mass production and distribution of images. This was essential in disseminating knowledge and solidifying social hierarchies in an era before photography. Here, the medium reflects the sitter's position as a person of importance, as well as Lubin's own expertise as an artist.