Portret van Jacob Daniel Ernst 1665 - 1721

This is a portrait of Jacob Daniel Ernst, made by Christian Romstet around the turn of the 18th century using engraving. Look closely, and you will see how this technique, basically a controlled form of cutting, allowed for the creation of many precise and repeatable lines. The image would have been made by incising lines into a metal plate, applying ink to its surface, and then transferring that ink to paper by means of a press. The result, as you can see, has a clarity and graphic power all its own. But consider also the social context: engraving was essential to the rise of modern capitalism, with all its attendant bureaucracy, record keeping, and marketing. It permitted the mass dissemination of images and text, fueling commerce and solidifying the status of people like Ernst – a man of faith and likely also a man of means. So, while this may look like a straightforward portrait, it is also a testament to the technologies that shaped early modernity.