Portret van Friedrich Christoph von Hammerstein 1651

This is a portrait of Friedrich Christoph von Hammerstein, made by Jeremias Falck in 1651, using engraving. This isn't drawing or painting, but something else entirely: the artist cut tiny lines into a metal plate, which was then inked and printed onto paper. Look closely, and you’ll see how Falck used these lines to create tone and texture. Notice, for instance, the intricate detail in the armor, achieved through careful hatching and cross-hatching. Then consider the soft rendering of Von Hammerstein’s face, in contrast. This material process also invites the question: How do the technologies of printmaking influence the way we see the world? This was a time when printed images became widespread, shaping public opinion and solidifying the status of important people, like Von Hammerstein. Engraving was a highly skilled craft, requiring years of training. Yet, it also allowed for mass production and distribution. In a way, it was an early form of industrialization applied to art making. So when we look at this portrait, we’re not just seeing an image of a man, but also a reflection of the social and technological forces at play in seventeenth-century Europe.