Portret van Charles Hamilton Binning 1735 - 1757

This portrait of Charles Hamilton Binning, eldest son of the Earl of Haddington, was made using the printmaking technique of mezzotint by Alexander van Haecken in the 18th century. Mezzotint allowed for the creation of rich tonal values and subtle gradations, mimicking the look of paintings, and it became a popular method for reproducing portraits of the British elite like this one. The cultural significance of portraiture is intertwined with the social hierarchies of the time; it was a means for the aristocracy to assert their status. Consider the carefully styled wig, the tailored coat, the very act of commissioning and disseminating this image. To truly understand this image, we can consult genealogical records, social histories of the British aristocracy, and studies of 18th-century print culture. In doing so, we can better understand the politics of imagery and the social conditions that shaped artistic production.