Portret van August Posselt 1687 - 1743

Johann Georg Mentzel created this print of August Posselt, likely in the early 18th century, using etching and engraving techniques on a metal plate. The density of fine lines speaks to the labor invested in its making. The image exemplifies the cultural importance of printmaking at the time. Engravings like this weren't just art objects; they were a crucial form of visual communication. Before photography, printed portraits circulated images of prominent figures, spreading ideas and solidifying social hierarchies. The text inscribed below Posselt’s image serves to further cement the subject’s legacy, and to disseminate it widely. Consider the skilled labor involved, the engraver meticulously transferring an image onto a metal plate, which then could be reproduced many times over. These prints made images accessible to a wider audience, a contrast to unique, hand-painted portraits reserved for the wealthy elite. By understanding the print's materials, making, and context, we appreciate its social significance, blurring the lines between craft, art, and mass communication.