Portret van Paolo Giovio 1549 - 1577

This is a portrait of Paolo Giovio, made as an engraving by an anonymous artist. Engraving is an intaglio printmaking process, where the design is incised on a metal plate using a tool called a burin. The fine lines capture the details of Giovio’s face, his clothing, and the decorative border. The act of engraving is laborious and time-consuming, requiring considerable skill and control. The choice of engraving as a medium speaks to broader social themes. During the Renaissance, prints became a way to disseminate images widely. The making of prints was a capitalist enterprise, with workshops employing skilled artisans. This particular portrait, made with meticulous detail, is a testament to the engraver’s expertise, a contribution that we should recognize alongside that of the sitter, Paolo Giovio. Ultimately, this image is a potent reminder of the ways in which artistic production is intertwined with labor, skill, and the social conditions of its time.