Portret van Johannes Sambucus 1749 - 1796

Johann Ernst Mansfeld made this portrait of Johannes Sambucus using an engraving technique. Lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed, a process that demands precision and control. The stark contrast of light and shadow, achieved through careful hatching and cross-hatching, gives the portrait depth. The image is a testament to the engraver's skill, and to the detailed labor involved. The quality of the lines suggests the engraver had great control of his tools, suggesting refined skill and experience. Engraving, unlike painting, is a reproductive medium. This print would have allowed for the wider circulation of Sambucus’s image, contributing to his public persona. So, while seemingly simple, this print speaks to the rise of print culture, and the ways in which images could be disseminated and consumed in the 18th century. It collapses any simple distinction between art, craft, and the technologies of its time.