Bartholomeus van der Helst 1665 - 1675

This print of Bartholomeus van der Helst was made by Abraham Blooteling around 1680, using the technique of mezzotint. Mezzotint is an intaglio process, meaning that the image is created by incising lines into a metal plate, which are then filled with ink and printed. Blooteling would have roughened the entire plate with a tool called a rocker, creating a dense field of burrs. By selectively burnishing or scraping away these burrs, he could create lighter tones, resulting in a rich range of gradations. This print beautifully captures the likeness of van der Helst, a successful portrait painter himself. The fact that Blooteling chose to portray van der Helst holding a miniature portrait and his palette speaks volumes about the social standing of artists in the Dutch Golden Age. By emphasizing the skill and labor involved in both painting and printmaking, the image elevates these crafts to the level of high art, challenging traditional hierarchies.