Portret van Jacob van Catz 1712 - 1731

This is Pieter van Gunst’s engraving of Jacob van Catts, now in the Rijksmuseum. As an engraving, the image is made by cutting lines into a metal plate, applying ink, and then pressing the plate onto paper. Consider the labor involved: not just the artist’s, but also the papermaker’s, the metalworker’s, and the printer’s. Engravings like these are multiples, often made for broad distribution. Van Gunst was a prolific printmaker, responsible for countless portraits that circulated widely. The choice of engraving also influences our perception of the portrait. The sharp, precise lines create a sense of detail and realism, but also lend the image a certain coolness. There’s a distance between the viewer and the sitter, a sense of formality that reflects the social standing of both van Catts, and perhaps also of those who would have bought the print. Thinking about the materials and processes, it becomes clear that this image is as much a product of industry, and social status as it is of artistic skill. It prompts us to question the traditional boundaries between art, craft, and the wider world of labor and production.