Portret van Peter Paul Rubens 1883

Jean-Baptiste Meunier made this portrait of Peter Paul Rubens using etching techniques, probably sometime in the late 19th century. The etching process is fascinating. It involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant material, then scratching away areas to expose the metal. When the plate is submerged in acid, the exposed parts are eaten away, creating lines. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling these etched lines. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Here, the velvety blacks and nuanced grays speak to Meunier's skill in controlling the depth and density of the etched lines. Notice how this intaglio printmaking method results in a subtle three-dimensionality, a tactile quality quite different from a flat reproduction. By using this technique, the artist is showing his work through the labor-intensive tradition of printmaking, thus revealing a reverence for the skilled labor involved.