Portret van Heinrich Welling 1575 - 1600

Jakob Lederlein created this portrait of Heinrich Welling, likely on paper using engraving techniques. Look closely, and you'll see the fine lines that build up the image, defining Welling's face, clothes, and the ornate frame around him. Engraving is a printmaking process where the artist uses a tool called a burin to carve lines into a metal plate. The plate is then inked, and the ink is held in those carved lines. When paper is pressed against the plate, the ink transfers, creating the image. What makes engraving so interesting is its relationship to labor. Each line represents a deliberate act, a skilled hand guiding the burin. The density of the lines creates shading and depth, but also reflects the intense concentration and time required to produce the print. The medium of print also allows for distribution and dissemination of information, but also points to the labor involved in replicating and circulating images. So, next time you see an engraving, remember the labor and skill etched into its very surface.