Portret van een onbekende man 1784 - 1826

This portrait of an unknown man was made by Jacob Ernst Marcus, using etching and engraving. These are printmaking techniques, which involve using acid to corrode lines into a metal plate. The plate is then inked and used to make impressions on paper. The controlled corrosion of the plate, followed by the physical act of printing, imbues the artwork with both a sense of precision and the hand-made. Notice the lines, which create shading and texture, and how the etched lines convey the texture of the man's coat. Printmaking was often used for portraits in this period. This allowed for the reproduction and distribution of images, raising questions of labor, politics and consumption. The amount of work and the materials involved in the production process, emphasize the importance of understanding the intersection of materials, making, and context to fully understand the meaning of the artwork.