Portret van Johann Hitzler 1651 - 1702

This portrait of Johann Hitzler was made by Michael Fennitzer sometime in the 17th century, using the printmaking technique of engraving. To make an engraving like this one, the artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a copper plate. Ink is then pressed into these lines, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Look closely, and you can see the clean, precise lines that define Hitzler’s features and clothing. The control required for this process speaks to a high level of skill. Engravings like this weren’t just about artistic expression; they were also a means of mass production. Prints could be reproduced and distributed widely, making images and ideas accessible to a broader audience. This connects the work to the burgeoning culture of print and communication in the early modern period. It reminds us that art is always embedded in a matrix of materials, making, and social context.