Portret van Bernhard Schmidt 1695

This portrait of Bernhard Schmidt was made in 1698 by Moritz Bodenehr, using etching and engraving. These printmaking techniques are indirect, involving the use of metal plates to transfer an image onto paper. The fine, precise lines we see in the portrait result from a labor-intensive process. The artist would have first coated a metal plate with a waxy ground, then used a sharp needle to scratch away the ground, exposing the metal. This plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink was then applied to the plate, filling these grooves. Finally, the plate was pressed onto paper, transferring the inked image. The controlled, repetitive nature of this process speaks to the burgeoning print industry of the 17th century, where such portraits could be reproduced and disseminated, contributing to the subject's status and legacy. Understanding these techniques and their social context allows us to appreciate the craft involved.