Buste van een man met baard, naar links 1655 - 1700

Jan van Somer created this bust of a bearded man, in an unknown year, using the mezzotint technique. Look closely and you'll see it's characterized by subtle gradations of tone, achieved by roughening the copper plate with a tool called a rocker, and then smoothing areas to create lighter values. The velvety texture results from countless tiny burrs holding ink. Somer would have spent hours preparing the plate, and carefully burnishing and scraping areas to refine the image. Mezzotint was favored for its ability to reproduce tonal subtleties, emulating the look of paintings. As such, it was valued for reproductive printmaking, allowing for dissemination of images to a wider audience. The labor-intensive nature of mezzotint meant it was often undertaken by skilled artisans. Considering the materials, making, and the social context of printmaking, helps us understand the artistic and cultural values embedded in this impressive portrait.