Portret van Johann Jodocus Schmidmair von Schwarzenbruck 1648 - 1663

This is Johann Pfann’s portrait of Johann Jodocus Schmidmair von Schwarzenbruck, made around the mid-17th century, using engraving. It's not painting or sculpture, but a print - a technology that could disseminate images far and wide, playing a vital role in the spread of information and ideas. Engraving involves carefully incising lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The quality of the final print depends on the engraver’s skill in manipulating tools to create fine lines and tonal variations. Look closely, and you'll see the texture of the lines, the varying depths and the ways they come together to form the image. The controlled, repetitive labor contrasts with the individuality of a painted portrait. The print is reproducible, and relatively democratic. It brings artistry into a wider sphere of circulation, challenging notions of uniqueness, preciousness, and the elite status of art objects.