Portret van Thomas Howard 1735

Jacob Houbraken created this portrait of Thomas Howard using engraving, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate, which then holds ink and transfers the design to paper. Consider the labor involved: the careful planning, the precise cutting of lines, and the physical demands of working with metal. The material itself dictates the image. The stark contrast between the dark ink and the white paper creates a graphic quality, emphasizing line and form over color and texture. The engraved lines create a network of shading, defining Howard's features and clothing. The image gains social significance as the engraving process allowed for mass production and distribution of images. Houbraken's print engages with histories of craft and fine arts. He elevated printmaking to an art form, breaking down traditional distinctions between craft and fine art, and revealing connections to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. The act of making informs the meaning of the image.