Portret van William Bromley Cadogan 1784

This print of William Bromley Cadogan was made by Charles Howard Hodges using a technique called mezzotint, which was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries for its rich tonal range. The process begins with a copper plate roughened with a tool called a rocker, creating a burr that, if printed, would produce a solid black. The artist then uses a scraper and burnisher to selectively smooth areas of the plate, allowing for varying degrees of ink to be held, and thus creating shades of grey and white. Look closely and you will see how Hodges masterfully employs this technique to model Cadogan's face and clothing, capturing subtle gradations of light and shadow. The velvety blacks and smooth transitions are characteristic of mezzotint, lending the portrait a soft, almost painterly quality. This method, while capable of great nuance, was labor-intensive, reflecting the value placed on skilled handwork before the advent of photographic reproduction. By understanding the means of production, we gain insight into the aesthetic choices and cultural values embedded in this portrait.