Portret van Jan II, hertog van Brabant 1660s

Pieter van Schuppen created this portrait of Jan II, Duke of Brabant, using engraving, a printmaking technique where lines are incised into a metal plate. The material reality of this artwork is inextricably linked to labor. Each line you see required skilled hand-work, a testament to the engraver's precision. The density of the lines creates tone and texture, bringing Jan II's likeness to life. Look closely, and you’ll notice how van Schuppen varied the weight and direction of the lines to capture the light reflecting off the Duke's face and clothing. This would have taken time, and lots of it! Engravings like this were often reproduced, making images more widely accessible. In doing so, this portrait also participates in the economy of image production, which involved publishers, distributors, and consumers. By considering the labor and materials that went into this engraving, we can appreciate it not just as a representation, but as a product of its time.