Portret van Adam Stellwaag 1776

Christoph-Wilhelm Bock made this portrait of Adam Stellwaag. It is an etching on paper. The artist incised lines into a metal plate, which was then inked and printed onto paper. This was an established method for disseminating images during this period, quite different from the unique status of a painting, for example. Each impression is essentially a copy, but one that still requires considerable hand skill. Look closely, and you can see the fine lines that define Stellwaag’s face and clothing. The texture of the paper also plays a role, creating a subtle contrast with the smooth areas of the print. The choice of paper influenced the final image. Consider the social context of this work: etching allowed for the mass production of images, making art more accessible to a wider audience, connecting art and craft. The portrait captures not only the likeness of Adam Stellwaag, but also a moment in the history of image-making and its relationship to labor, skill, and technology.