Portret van Franz Heinrich Schaden 17th century

This small portrait of Franz Heinrich Schaden was made by Jakob Petrus using engraving. The process involves incising a design onto a hard, usually flat surface by cutting grooves into it, and in this instance, using a burin to make those cuts on a metal plate. The marks that Petrus made in the metal dictate the image, and the precision and consistency of the lines speaks to the artist’s skill. The density of the lines create darker areas and suggest volume. Notice how the lines form Franz’s elaborate wig, his draped coat, and the oval frame. Engraving was widely used for reproducing images, and for creating portraits of notable individuals like Franz. The printmaking process allowed for the wider dissemination of his image. This speaks to the social function of the work, and how traditional craft practices intersect with the need for representation and distribution of power in society.