Portret van Wolfgang Willem, paltsgraaf van de Palts-Neuburg in ovaal 1613 - 1656

This portrait of Wolfgang Willem, Count Palatine of Neuburg, was made by Cornelis Danckerts the Elder, using engraving on paper. Engraving is a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate, which then holds ink and transfers the design to paper. The fine, precise lines you see here are the result of skilled handwork, using a tool called a burin to carve into the metal. The contrast between the dark lines and the white paper gives the portrait its form, while the texture suggests the Count's clothing and features. Danckerts was not only an artist, but also a publisher, part of a system of production, distribution, and consumption. The print could be reproduced multiple times, making it more accessible than a unique painted portrait. Considering the labor involved in creating this image, from the engraver's skill to the paper production, helps us appreciate the complex intersection of art, craft, and industry in 17th century Europe.