Man en profil, op de achtergrond een kerk en een gebouw met galerij 1630 - 1665

This print, depicting a man in profile, was made by Salomon Savery, probably in the first half of the 17th century. Savery was a master of etching, a printmaking technique that relies on the corrosive action of acid to create an image in metal, which can then be inked and printed. The character’s volume comes from the many tiny lines scratched into the copperplate with a sharp needle, a process that would have taken considerable time and skill. Look closely, and you can see how the cross-hatching is denser in areas of shadow, giving the figure a real sense of weight. What's interesting here is the implied social commentary. Savery, using this relatively new technology of printmaking, was able to cheaply produce and distribute images that poked fun at the wealthy merchant class. The figure, with his bulging belly and fur hat, is labeled “Oostindische Droemoe,” or East Indies Dreamer, clearly suggesting that he has profited handsomely from colonial trade. Savery's clever use of a repeatable medium allowed him to circulate a critical view of wealth accumulation. It is a reminder that even seemingly straightforward images are born of specific processes, and are embedded in complex social and economic circumstances.