Portret van Jeremias de Decker 1683 - 1732

Arnoud van Halen created this portrait of Jeremias de Decker using etching, a printmaking technique capable of capturing incredible detail. The etched lines create a sense of depth and texture, defining the sitter’s features and clothing. The process begins with a metal plate coated in a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then draws through the ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling these etched lines, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the ink and creating the print. The controlled removal of material through acid allows for nuanced tonal variations, crucial for capturing the play of light and shadow in the portrait. It is a mechanical process, but requiring considerable skill to produce such a convincing likeness. And although we tend to separate art and industry, prints like this circulated widely, bringing images to a broad public in a relatively democratic way.