Portret van Engelbert Sterckx 1830 - 1906

Edouard Vermorcken created this portrait of Engelbert Sterckx using engraving techniques, which were very popular in the 19th century for their ability to reproduce images widely. Look closely, and you'll see the remarkable amount of labor involved. The entire image is built up through thousands of tiny marks made with a tool called a burin. The incised lines create tone and texture, from the soft fur trim on Sterckx’s robes to the detailed folds of the fabric. Engraving demanded immense skill and patience, and prints like this were often made by professional printmakers, sometimes working from a painter's design. Engravings like this circulated widely and shaped public perception. Though we might not think of printmaking as ‘craft’ today, it absolutely was. This print participates in a long history of skilled handwork, which intersects with both fine art and the commercial world. Appreciating the craft involved allows us to see the print not just as a picture, but as the result of skilled work that was essential to visual culture.