Zelfportret van prentmaker Johan Christoffel Schultz 1782

This self-portrait was made by Johan Christoffel Schultz, in 1782. The medium here is etching, an intaglio printmaking technique in which a metal plate, usually copper, is covered with a waxy ground. The artist then scratches an image into the ground with a pointed tool. The plate is then bathed in acid, which bites into the metal where it's exposed, creating incised lines. Ink is applied to the plate, filling these lines, and the surface is wiped clean. When paper is pressed against the plate, the ink transfers, resulting in a print. Schultz’s expertise lies in the precision of the lines, creating tone, texture, and form, all from simple means. The image speaks to the tradition of printmaking and the labor intensive work involved in the process. By emphasizing the careful, skillful work involved in creating such an image, Schultz elevates the status of printmaking and the art of craft.