Portret van Gerard van Swieten 1749 - 1796

This is a portrait of Gerard van Swieten, made by Johann Ernst Mansfeld. Although undated, it's an engraving, a printmaking technique that dates back to the 15th century. The method involves cutting lines into a metal plate, applying ink to the incisions, and then pressing paper against the plate to transfer the image. The fineness of the lines that Mansfeld was able to achieve gives a real sense of the texture of fabric, and the curl of the sitter's wig. Engraving was more than just a way to reproduce images; it was also a craft, requiring years of training to master the tools and techniques. This portrait then, is an example of skilled labor, a physical process used to create images that could be widely disseminated. This brings art closer to the realm of craft and design, blurring the lines between these categories.