Tordenskjold 1813 - 1872

Andreas Flinch made this portrait of Tordenskjold using wood engraving, or xylography, a process involving carving an image into the end grain of a block of wood. The character of this material is key to the artwork's appearance. The fine lines and details result from the density of the wood, allowing Flinch to achieve a high level of precision. This is very different to the more familiar technique of etching, where acid is used to bite into a metal plate. Instead, with skillful control of chisels and gouges, Flinch cut away the areas of the block that would not hold ink. Wood engraving was particularly well-suited to the demands of mass production in the 19th century. The blocks could be integrated into the printing process alongside metal type, and many impressions taken before the block degraded. This made the process ideal for book illustration and commercial print. It’s a reminder that even seemingly straightforward portraiture can be deeply embedded in a world of labor, industry, and consumption.