Portret van Hermann Arnold, Freiherr von Wachtendonck 1715 - 1777

Michael Rössler created this portrait of Hermann Arnold, Freiherr von Wachtendonck, using engraving, a printmaking process that demands careful labor and precision. The image is built up through a dense network of tiny engraved lines, each one carefully incised into a metal plate, probably copper. Ink is then forced into these lines, and the image transferred to paper under great pressure, a labor-intensive process. The quality of the print depends entirely on the engraver's skill. Look closely, and you'll see how Rössler varies the weight and density of his lines to create a full range of tones. Engraving was often used for reproducing paintings, but here it serves to convey status directly, the medium itself suggesting wealth and refinement. This wasn't just about making images, but about making a statement about class and taste, where the handwork involved signified value. It reminds us that even seemingly simple prints could be powerful markers of social standing.