Portret van Johann Otto von Hellwig 1700 - 1749

This print of Johann Otto von Hellwig was made by Jakob Petrus using a process called etching, a printmaking technique that dates back to the 1500s. The process begins with a metal plate, usually copper or zinc, covered with a waxy ground. The artist then scratches an image into the ground with a needle, exposing the metal. The plate is then dipped in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is applied to the plate, filling the etched lines, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the ink and creating the print. Consider the labor involved in this detailed portrait. The etcher had to be a skilled metalworker, chemist, and draughtsman, with specialized knowledge in order to produce multiple identical versions. The resulting print brings to mind questions around the status of the sitter, and who had access to this new form of reproducible image.