Portret van Jeremias Hopffer 1672 - 1710

This print of Jeremias Hopffer was made by Martin Dichtl in the late 17th century. It's an etching, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, with acid. Look closely, and you can see the texture created by this process; the varying depths of the lines and the subtle tonal gradations made possible by the acid biting into the metal. This wasn't a quick process; it would've required skill and patience to create such a detailed portrait. Each line is the result of labor. The fact that this image was made as a print speaks to the growing middle class in the Netherlands at this time. This was a society interested in replicating and disseminating images, and in claiming status through portraiture. The print medium enabled a wider distribution of Hopffer's image, and allowed the artist to reach a broader audience than he could through painting alone. Ultimately, this portrait speaks volumes about the social and economic conditions of its time.