Portret van Franciscus Gomarus 1783 - 1795

This is Reinier Vinkeles's portrait of Franciscus Gomarus, made with etching techniques, during the 18th century. The controlled precision of etching lends itself well to detailed portraiture. A metal plate, likely copper, would have been coated with wax, and the design carefully scratched through it with a fine needle. This reveals the metal, which is then bitten by acid, creating recessed lines. The plate is then inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. Pressed onto paper, the image is transferred. Note the fineness of line that defines Gomarus's features and beard, achieved only through skill and repetitive labor. The printmaking process allowed for relatively quick reproduction, which democratized image-making in the 1700's, but still required artisanship and time. Appreciating the work involved helps us understand the value that would have been placed on these images, and how they would have been consumed and circulated in society.