Portret van Oliver Goldsmith 1770

Giuseppe Filippo Liberati Marchi created this mezzotint portrait of Oliver Goldsmith sometime in the late 18th century. Mezzotint is an intaglio printmaking process, meaning the image is incised into a metal plate, in this case likely copper. Unlike engraving, which uses lines, mezzotint creates tone through roughening the plate with a tool called a rocker. This creates a burr that holds ink, resulting in a rich, velvety black when printed. The artist then gradually smooths areas to create lighter tones. The labor-intensive nature of mezzotint meant it was often used for reproducing paintings, making art more accessible to a wider audience. Here, the process is used to capture the likeness of Goldsmith, a prominent writer. The soft tonality lends a certain gravitas, while the sharp details, achieved by the artist scraping the plate, highlights the sitter's features, and the expensive fur coat. Consider the skilled labor and materials involved in both Goldsmith's literary work, and Marchi's printmaking. These were commodities produced and consumed in a burgeoning market, a reminder of the intricate relationship between art, labor, and commerce in the 18th century.