Portret Francisco Hurtado de Mendoza 1600 - 1650

This print of Francisco Hurtado de Mendoza was made anonymously, using engraving techniques. Engraving is an intaglio process. First, the artist would have coated a copper plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground. Then, using a sharp tool called a burin, they would have drawn the portrait, exposing the metal. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the lines. The longer the plate was exposed, the deeper the lines. Ink would then be forced into these lines, the surface wiped clean, and then the image transferred to paper under great pressure. Look closely and you’ll notice the variations in the lines, all achieved through manual skill and judgment. Through these marks, the engraver captured not just Mendoza’s likeness, but also his social status as a high-ranking military figure. The print is a testament to both Mendoza's importance and the engraver's skilled labor. It reminds us that even seemingly simple images are the product of material expertise and social context.