Theodore van Tulden 1630 - 1645

Peeter de Jode the Younger made this print of Theodore van Tulden using the intaglio process. Here, the artist would have used a sharp tool called a burin to incise lines into a copper plate, creating grooves that hold ink. The strength of this portrait lies in Jode's mastery of line. Notice how he coaxes form from a dense accumulation of marks. Van Tulden’s gaze is direct and assured, every detail of his rich clothing meticulously rendered. Jode uses the relatively mechanical process of printmaking to denote a figure of significant cultural standing. Of course, prints like this one were made for distribution. Intaglio allowed for relatively easy reproduction and dissemination of images. This connects the artwork to the modes of production and capitalism, as prints like this helped to promote the subjects’ status. By appreciating the techniques of production, we see beyond the traditional boundaries of art history to find new meaning.