Portret van Johann Georg von Schmidt auf Altenstadt before 1737

This portrait of Johann Georg von Schmidt auf Altenstadt was made by Bernhard Vogel, using engraving. This is an intaglio printmaking method, where lines are incised into a metal plate, which then holds the ink. Look closely, and you can see how the varying density and direction of the lines create tone and texture, from the rich folds of Schmidt’s robe to the elaborate curls of his wig. The act of engraving is laborious, requiring patience and control. Here, that skill is devoted to depicting a man of power and wealth. Note, too, that he is posed with a sculpted bust – an object made by a different, equally laborious process. While engraving is a highly skilled craft, it also had a crucial role in the development of modern capitalism. Prints like this one were a key means of circulating images and information. So, in a sense, the portrait is itself a commodity, an item of consumption. Considering the amount of work involved in its production, the image prompts us to think about the relationship between labor, class, and representation in the 18th century.