Portret van Jacques Vekemans before 1912

Joseph Edouard Van Looy made this portrait of Jacques Vekemans using engraving, a printmaking technique where lines are cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Engraving demands meticulous skill, each line a deliberate act, reflecting the values of precision and control prized in the 19th century. The sharp lines and tonal gradations achieved through engraving lend the portrait a sense of formality and authority, fitting for its subject. But it is not just about representing likeness. The medium itself elevates the sitter to a higher status. Consider too the labor involved: the skilled artisan carefully translating an image into a matrix of lines, a process far removed from the immediacy of painting. This craft-based approach invites us to consider the social context in which this portrait was created. By attending to the materials and making of this print, we gain a richer understanding of its cultural significance, challenging any separation between 'high art' and skilled craft.