Portret van Hans Michael Elias von Obentraut 1584 - 1625

This print of Hans Michael Elias von Obentraut was made by Jacob van der Heyden, sometime between the late 16th and mid-17th century. It is an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, with a tool called a burin. Consider the labor involved. The artist would have to translate a likeness into a language of pure line, modulating the thickness and density of marks to suggest form, light, and shadow. See how van der Heyden used hatching to create a sense of depth, and stippling to model the face. Prints like this one were part of a burgeoning visual culture, fueled by the rise of the merchant class and advancements in printing technology. They democratized portraiture, making images of prominent figures like Obentraut accessible to a wider audience beyond the elite. The proliferation of prints also spurred the development of a market for art, with artists like van der Heyden finding new ways to make a living through their craft. So while this image depicts a military man, it is equally a document of a changing society.