Portret van Lambrecht Hendriksz. Verhouven 1858 - 1860

This is a portrait of Lambrecht Hendriksz. Verhouven, created by Jan Frederik Christiaan Reckleben, but the date remains unknown. It is made via etching, a printmaking process with a long and intriguing history. The etching method involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground. The artist then scratches an image into this ground, exposing the metal beneath. When the plate is submerged in acid, the exposed lines are 'bitten' or etched into the surface. Ink is then applied, filling these etched lines. The surface is wiped clean, and finally, the image is transferred to paper under high pressure. The result, as we see here, is a print with fine, precise lines, capable of capturing intricate details and subtle tonal variations. Consider the labor involved in this process. The skilled hand of the etcher is crucial, as is the infrastructure of printmaking. Etchings like this were often produced in multiples, making images and information accessible to a broader audience, playing a key role in shaping public opinion.