Portret van een onbekende man, mogelijk Johann Friedrich von Württemberg 1630

Lucas Kilian made this print of an unknown man, possibly Johann Friedrich von Württemberg, around 1630. The technique here is engraving, where lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. Look closely, and you can see the dense network of these lines that create a full range of tones. The real subject of this portrait isn't just the sitter himself, but the incredibly detailed rendering of his garments. The lace collar, the patterned doublet, the jeweled buttons. All speak to the wealth and status of the sitter, and also to the skill of the many artisans who created such intricate pieces. Prints like this one circulated widely, popularizing certain fashions and fueling consumption, yet the labor involved in textile production was often obscured. This print is a reminder that even seemingly simple images can tell complex stories about the economy, labor, and class in the 17th century.