Portret van Johannes Pieter Roetert Tak van Poortvliet 1904 - 1906

This portrait of Johannes Pieter Roetert Tak van Poortvliet, created by Johannes Walter, likely uses etching to create a monochromatic and detailed image. I’m thinking about the labor here, all those tiny, precise marks the artist made to build up the image. Look at how Walter uses these marks to define form, create depth, and capture the texture of the suit, the tie, the hair, and the skin. Imagine the artist bent over the plate, guiding the etching needle with painstaking care. Did he feel a sense of connection with his subject or was this just a job? It makes me think about how much labor goes into image-making. I see the artist's hand in every line, a testament to the long, rich history of printmaking. And now, we're all part of that conversation, adding our own thoughts and interpretations to the mix.