Portret van Johannes Gurlitt

This portrait of Johannes Gurlitt was made by Johann Joachim Faber in the 18th or 19th century, using a printing technique called etching. Look closely and you’ll see how Faber has captured the image by incising lines into a metal plate, likely copper. The plate would have been covered with an acid-resistant wax, and then the lines are drawn through the wax, exposing the metal underneath. When the plate is dipped in acid, it bites into these exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is then applied into these grooves, the surface wiped clean, and the image transferred to paper under great pressure. The resulting print has a distinctive, slightly velvety texture and a tonal range achieved through varying the density and depth of the etched lines. Because the image is reproducible, etching was aligned with the rise of the middle class, and their desire for images—a burgeoning market in which artists like Faber found their place. The skill involved wasn't just artistic; it was deeply entwined with craft traditions. Faber had to be a technician as well as an artist, mastering the chemical processes and mechanical skills required to create a successful print. That combination is what makes this portrait so compelling.