Portret van Wilhelmus Momma 1677 - 1707

This print of Wilhelmus Momma was made around 1700 by Jan van Munnickhuysen. Look closely, and you'll see it's not a drawing, but an engraving, made by incising lines into a copper plate. The engraver's skill is evident in the incredibly fine lines, carefully modulated to create light and shadow. This technique requires immense patience and control, and the result is a remarkably detailed likeness. Consider too the social context: printmaking was a key medium for disseminating information and images in the early modern period. Engravings like this one allowed portraits to be reproduced and shared widely, contributing to the subject’s public image and reputation. In a very real sense, this is an early form of mass media. It's important to recognize the labor involved in creating such an image, and to understand how these processes imbue the artwork with social and cultural meaning.