Portret van Philipp Ludwig Melem op 48-jarige leeftijd 1652

This is a portrait of Philipp Ludwig Melem at age 48, made in 1652 by Sebastian Furck. It’s an engraving, meaning the image was carved into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. Think about the labor involved in this process. Every line, every curve of Melem's face, was painstakingly etched by hand. The quality of the final print depended on the skill of the engraver, a craftsman who had to be both technically precise and artistically sensitive. Look closely at the textures achieved: the soft shading of Melem’s face, the intricate details of his coat, the crisp lettering of the inscription. All of this was made possible by Furck’s mastery of his materials. Engraving was a reproductive medium, meaning that it allowed images to be disseminated widely, as well as a means of commemorating someone like Melem. This was a far cry from painting, which was one of a kind. So, in appreciating this print, we recognize not only Furck’s artistic skill, but also the social and economic context in which he worked.