Portret van de kunstenaar Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini 1680 - 1725

This is Arnold van Westerhout’s portrait of Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini, rendered in delicate lines of engraving. The process of engraving begins with a metal plate, usually copper. The artist uses a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into the plate’s surface. These lines, with their crisp precision, define the image. Ink is then forced into these grooves, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. It's a labor-intensive practice, demanding absolute control and precision. Engraving was a critical skill for disseminating images widely. Think of it as the printing press of its day for visual culture. This portrait makes Bernini, already famous in Rome for his theatrical sculptures, available to a much wider audience. Consider the social context too; while Bernini sculpted popes and kings, Westerhout’s engraving democratized his image, bringing the Baroque master to the masses. It's a reminder that even portraits, seemingly straightforward, are shaped by materials, processes, and the social currents of their time.