Portret van keizer Ferdinand III 1654

This portrait of Emperor Ferdinand the Third was created by Ludwig von Siegen using a technique called mezzotint, a painstaking process involving a copper plate and a tool called a rocker. The plate is first roughened to create a field of tiny burrs, then areas are burnished smooth to create the highlights of the image. The velvety blacks and subtle gradations of tone are characteristic of this process, which allowed for a richer range of values than traditional engraving. Von Siegen was one of the first to use this method, which requires considerable skill and time. Consider the labor involved in creating such a detailed portrait, one intended to convey the power and authority of the Emperor. The mezzotint technique, with its emphasis on tonal range and detail, became a favored method for reproducing paintings and portraits. This speaks to the growing market for images and the increasing professionalization of printmaking as a skilled craft in the service of power and commerce. It reminds us that even seemingly straightforward portraits are the product of complex social and economic forces.