Portret van Maria Louisa van Hessen-Kassel c. 1762 - 1816

This print of Maria Louisa van Hessen-Kassel was made by Reinier Vinkeles. The image is realized with the technique of etching, a printmaking process that relies on acid to create lines in a metal plate. The quality of a print depends on the skills of the artist in manipulating the corrosive effects of the acid, and their dexterity with specialist tools. The etcher would have covered a metal plate with a waxy ground, then scratched away lines to expose the metal. Dipping the plate in acid then bites these exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink. Examining the print closely, you can see how Vinkeles carefully built up tone and texture through a dense network of fine lines. This attention to detail transforms a relatively straightforward process into a sophisticated artistic statement. This kind of close looking is also important because it reminds us that all works of art are made by someone, in this case an artisan highly skilled in a demanding process.