Portret van Frederik I van Pruisen 1688 - 1724

Jacob Gole’s portrait of Frederick I of Prussia was made using engraving, a printmaking technique that demands precision. Gole would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines into a copper plate. This is laborious work. The depth and density of the lines determine the tonal range of the image, from light to dark. Think of how many tiny cuts it took to render the elaborate lace cravat, the flowing wig, and the king’s regal bearing. Engraving has a long history, arising from the metalworking trades. In Gole’s time, prints like this one were a key means of disseminating images and information, akin to today’s mass media. The very act of reproducing Frederick’s likeness speaks to his power and reach. Yet, we might also consider the labor involved in producing this image, and the skilled craftsmanship that often goes unacknowledged. It reminds us that even seemingly straightforward portraits have a complex relationship to labor, politics, and consumption.