Portret van paus Julius III c. 1530 - 1560

This is an engraving of Pope Julius the Third by the Master of the Die. Engraving is an intaglio process; the design is incised into a metal plate, traditionally copper, using a tool called a burin. The ink sits in these grooves, and when paper is pressed against the plate, the image transfers. Look closely, and you’ll see how the lines vary in thickness. This is achieved by applying different amounts of pressure to the burin, a real feat of hand skill. Consider all the labor involved, cutting myriad marks with absolute precision. The dense texture of the engraving gives a richness of tone, suiting the importance of the subject. The Pope’s garments and the elaborate decorative border are rendered in exquisite detail. Engraving has a long history, both as a means of artistic expression and of reproducing images on a mass scale. In this portrait, we see how a craft-based process could be harnessed in the service of power.