Portret van een onbekende man 1831 - 1890

Jean Baptiste Pierre Michiels made this "Portret van een onbekende man" by using etching techniques. The image shows an unknown man, most likely from the nineteenth century. Etching is an indirect method of printmaking, where the image is bitten into a metal plate using acid. The etched lines hold ink, and are transferred to paper through a printing press. The physical pressure involved in this process gives the print a tactile quality. The success of an etching relies on the combination of technical skill and artistic vision. Considered a traditional fine art medium, the labor-intensive nature of etching connects it with craft traditions. The marks left by the etching needle show evidence of the artist's hand, and his engagement with the material. The image's inherent qualities are rooted in the artist's intimate connection to the materials and tools, bridging the gap between fine art and skilled craft.