Portret van Johann Jacob Quandt 1755

This engraving of Johann Jacob Quandt was made by Johann Martin Bernigeroth, probably in the mid-18th century. What we see is the result of a highly skilled, labor-intensive process, one of the most important means of image production before photography. Bernigeroth would have used a technique called intaglio, cutting lines into a copper plate with a tool called a burin. The plate would then be inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised lines. The print is made by pressing paper against the plate with considerable force, transferring the ink to the paper. The result is a mirror image of the original design on the plate. Look closely, and you’ll notice the incredible precision in the rendering of Quandt’s face, wig, and clothing. The quality of line is what gives the print its graphic power. This work reminds us that even seemingly simple images are often the result of great skill, and that the means of production are just as significant as the final product.