Portret van George Gordon 1775

This is Valentine Green’s portrait of George Gordon, made using a technique called mezzotint. It’s an intaglio process, meaning the image is incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The key to mezzotint is the rocker, a tool with a curved, serrated edge. Rocking the plate creates a dense, uniform burr, allowing the artist to work from dark to light by selectively burnishing or scraping away the burr to create lighter tones. Look closely, and you can see how Green has used this to create a range of textures, from the soft, velvety shadows to the bright highlights on Gordon's face and clothing. Mezzotint was prized for its tonal range and capacity to reproduce paintings. It also speaks to the social context of the time. Portrait prints like this were in high demand among the middle classes, fueling a market for skilled engravers. Valentine Green was one of the best, and this print demonstrates his mastery. By focusing on materials, making, and context, we can appreciate the technical skill and social significance of this work.