Portret van de predikant Henricus Hoffmann 1804

This print of Henricus Hoffman was made by Charles Howard Hodges, and is rendered in the technique of mezzotint. This is an intaglio printmaking process, meaning that the image is incised into the surface of the plate, typically copper. In mezzotint, the entire plate is roughened with a tool called a rocker, creating a burr that would print as solid black. The artist then smooths areas of the burr to create lighter tones, working from dark to light. The result, as we see here, is an image with rich tonal gradations. Mezzotint was prized for its ability to reproduce the subtleties of oil paintings, and was often used for portraits like this one. It is important to remember that prints like this one depended on the skilled labor of artisans, who often worked collaboratively. While Hodges may have been responsible for the overall design, other hands would have been involved in the production of the plate and the printing of the image. By considering these processes, we gain a deeper appreciation for the social context in which art is made.