Portret van paus Gregorius XIII 1590 - 1665

This print of Pope Gregory XIII was made by Friedrich van Hulsen around the turn of the 17th century. It's made using engraving, a printmaking technique that demands skill and precision. Look closely, and you’ll see how the image is composed of thousands of tiny lines, each one carefully etched into a metal plate. The incised lines hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under great pressure. Engraving was a highly valued skill, aligning it with the fine arts. This was a laborious process, and the quality of the print depended entirely on the engraver's expertise. The level of detail achieved speaks to the cultural significance of the process, and the status of the sitter. The materiality of engraving – the sharp lines, the tonal contrasts, and the overall precision – elevates this portrait beyond a mere likeness. It's a testament to the engraver's artistry, and the social context in which skilled handwork was both celebrated and essential to image making. It challenges any rigid distinction between craft and art.