Portret van Johann Georg Schmid von Schmidsfelden 1670 - 1737

Andreas Matthäus Wolfgang created this portrait of Johann Georg Schmid von Schmidsfelden, likely in the early 1700s, using engraving. Engraving is an intaglio process; lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The hardness of the metal allows for fine detail, but it's also very labor-intensive. You can see that incredible precision in the lines that define Schmid von Schmidsfelden’s face and ruffled collar. In its time, engraving was not just a means of artistic expression. It was also a reproductive technology. Images could be circulated widely, which made the engraver something like a proto-journalist. There is a lot of work involved in the production process. Considering the amount of skill and time required, it reminds us that even what appears to be a simple portrait involved a complex interplay of handcraft, technology, and social communication.