Portret van Claude Henri Watelet 1753

This is a portrait of Claude Henri Watelet, made by himself, using etching. Etching is an indirect intaglio printmaking technique that relies on the corrosive power of acid to create lines in a metal plate. The plate, likely copper, would first be coated with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The artist then scratches an image into the ground with a needle, exposing the metal. When the plate is submerged in acid, the exposed lines are "bitten," creating grooves. These grooves hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under high pressure. The fine lines and subtle gradations of tone in this print speak to Watelet’s mastery of the etching process. Consider the labor involved: the careful preparation of the plate, the deliberate and controlled scratching of the design, and the precise timing of the acid bath. Although this portrait depicts a man of leisure, its very existence is a testament to skilled work. It reminds us that even the most refined cultural achievements are rooted in material processes.