Portret van Anton Freiherr von Zach 1818 - 1832

This print of Anton Freiherr von Zach was made by Gustav Zumpe, likely in the early 19th century, using a technique called stipple engraving. Look closely, and you’ll see that the image isn't made of lines, as in traditional engraving, but of tiny dots. The engraver would have used a tool with a textured head to create these marks on a copper plate. The ink sits in these recesses, and is transferred to the paper when printed. The result is a soft, almost photographic effect. This kind of printmaking was ideally suited to portraiture, as it could capture subtle gradations of tone and texture. It also allowed for multiple impressions to be made, democratizing image production. In that sense, stipple engraving reflects the industrializing world it was made in. It is a reminder that even seemingly traditional art forms were deeply enmeshed with the means of production and consumption of their time.