Portret van een man met een bontmuts 1671

Jan van Somer made this portrait using the printmaking technique known as mezzotint. Notice how this process impacts the image; the velvety texture and subtle gradations of tone are achieved by first roughening the entire copper plate with a tool called a rocker, and then smoothing areas to create lighter tones. Mezzotint was especially prized for its capacity to produce rich blacks and delicate shading, ideally suited for portraying textures like fur and fabric. The portrait immortalizes a man in a lavish fur hat and collar. At the time the print was made, fur was a valuable commodity and a marker of wealth. Van Somer's choice of mezzotint cleverly emulates the luxurious quality of the sitter's garments. It is a nod to the global fur trade and the complex social hierarchies of the period. Looking closely at the materials, making, and context allows us to appreciate its aesthetic qualities and understand its connection to historical trade networks and social status. This challenges the traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.