Silhouetportret van Jan van Eijk, predikant te Loosduinen c. 1795 - 1851

This silhouette portrait of Jan van Eijk, a preacher from Loosduinen, was made by Daniël Veelwaard. It's a print, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, inked, and then transferred to paper. The skill in this technique lies in the control of line and tone; notice the fine hatching that models the preacher’s coat, giving it depth and texture. This isn't just a flat shape, but a carefully constructed likeness. The printmaking process, though relatively mechanized, still relied on the hand of a skilled artisan. There's a real sense of labor involved, from the initial drawing to the final impression. Prints like this were part of a burgeoning visual culture, a way of disseminating images widely and relatively cheaply. So while it depicts a man of the church, it’s also enmeshed in the emerging networks of production and consumption that defined the era. It reminds us that even seemingly simple images have complex stories to tell about materials, making, and their place in society.