Portret van Johann Georg Lang 1666

This portrait of Johann Georg Lang was made as an engraving, a printmaking technique which involves cutting lines into a metal plate. Look closely, and you can see the fine lines that define the contours of Lang’s face and clothing. The engraver, Matthias van Sommer, would have used a tool called a burin to carve these lines, a laborious and highly skilled process. The depth and density of the lines create areas of light and shadow, giving the portrait a sense of depth. The inscription below, also carefully incised, identifies the sitter as a man of the church. The act of engraving itself, with its demand for precision, mirrors the values of the religious establishment. Printmaking also allowed for the wider distribution of images, contributing to the subject's visibility and influence, and the engraver’s as well. So this isn't just a portrait; it's an artifact of labor, faith, and the burgeoning culture of mass media.