Portret van Christoph Timotheus Seidel 1730 - 1758

This print, made by Johann Christian Gottfried Fritzsch, portrays Christoph Timotheus Seidel. The technique here is engraving, a process that demands precise hand skills. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to cut lines into a metal plate, most likely copper, creating a design of recesses that would hold ink. The plate would then be inked, the surface wiped clean, and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The crisp, deliberate lines we see are testament to the engraver's control and expertise. Engraving was a key process in the distribution of images, especially portraits, during this period. It’s fascinating to think about the labor involved in producing such a detailed image and the role this kind of print played in constructing and disseminating the image of important individuals. It challenges us to consider how prints contributed to larger social structures.