Portret van Johann Jacob Tetzel 1643

This portrait of Johann Jacob Tetzel was made by Sebastian Furck, likely in the mid-17th century, using engraving. This is an intaglio process, meaning the image is incised into a metal plate, which then holds ink to be transferred to paper. The technique demands meticulous skill. Look closely and you’ll see that Furck has used a vocabulary of fine lines to describe textures and surfaces - the rich velvet robe, the delicate lace collar, even the stubble on Tetzel’s face. This must have taken hours of labor with a sharp burin in hand. Prints like this one were more than just images; they were a form of currency. Circulated widely, they could solidify a person's reputation, or spread political messages. The act of making prints was therefore tied to the emerging social structures of the time. By appreciating the work and labor involved, we can see this print not just as a portrait, but as an artifact of its time.