Portret van Ernst Graf von Metternich 1727 - 1729

Andreas Geyer created this portrait of Ernst Graf von Metternich using engraving, a printmaking technique dependent on meticulous, highly skilled labor. The image is built from precisely incised lines into a metal plate, likely copper. This painstaking process demanded not only artistic skill, but also physical strength and control, and the ability to translate an image into a network of lines. The varying thickness and density of these lines create the illusion of tone and texture, from the sheen of Metternich's armor to the soft, billowing curls of his wig. We see this detailed approach throughout the image. Engraving was a labor-intensive means of production, often used for reproducing images on a mass scale, yet in this case, it serves to commemorate an individual of high social standing, reminding us of how these techniques have elevated the status of the depicted subject. Considering the labor involved, it brings new depths to our appreciation, challenging any traditional distinction between the skill involved in craft and fine art.