Portret van Samuel Schultz 1699

This portrait of Samuel Schultz was made around 1699 by Pieter Schenk, using the technique of mezzotint. Mezzotint is a printmaking process achieved by roughening a copper plate with a tool called a rocker, and then smoothing areas to create an image. In effect, the artist is working from dark to light. It is an incredibly labor-intensive method. The rich blacks and subtle gradations of tone we see here are characteristic of the medium. Consider the social context: This was an era when printed images were becoming increasingly important for disseminating information and ideas. Mezzotint, with its capacity for detailed representation, was a popular choice for portraiture. The work involved speaks to the value placed on likeness, and its reproduction for circulation. So, next time you look at a print, remember the processes and the social context that gave it form. Understanding how things are made gives us a far richer appreciation of their meaning.