Portret van Proposto Lastri 1782 - 1846

Francesco Inghirami made this portrait of Proposto Lastri using etching, a printmaking technique that democratized image production. To make an etching, you cover a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant coating. The artist then draws through this coating with a sharp needle, exposing the metal. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves. These grooves hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under high pressure. Look closely and you can see the subtle tonal variations that Inghirami achieved by varying the depth and density of the etched lines. The linear quality lends the image a sense of precision and clarity, appropriate for a portrait of a man of apparent intellectual standing. Etching emerged as a favored technique, allowing artists to produce multiple copies of their work relatively quickly and inexpensively. The rise of printmaking was integral to the rise of capitalism, enabling the wide distribution of images and ideas. It also blurred the lines between art and craft, challenging traditional hierarchies of skill and value.