Portret van de Italiaanse kardinaal Pompeo Colonna 1636 - 1679

Frans van den Wijngaerde made this print of Pompeo Colonna using engraving, a method of cutting lines into a metal plate to hold ink. Engraving demanded incredible skill. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines into a copper plate. The depth and density of these lines determined the darkness of the printed image, allowing for subtle gradations of tone. If you look closely, you can see the network of hatched lines that define Colonna's face and clothing. This wasn't just a technical exercise, it was a deeply physical and time-consuming process. The resulting print wasn’t only a work of art, but a means of circulating Colonna’s image, spreading his influence through the power of the press. Appreciating the artistry and labor embedded in this print challenges the traditional hierarchy between fine art and the so-called 'minor' arts.