Portret van Johannes Hus 1775 - 1840

This portrait of Johannes Hus was created by Ernst Ludwig Riepenhausen using engraving, a process that demands precision and care. The image is made through painstaking work. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to manually incise lines into a metal plate. Ink is then applied to the plate, and after wiping the surface, ink remains in the engraved lines. Finally, the image is transferred to paper under high pressure. Consider the level of skill this requires; the artist's hand guiding the burin to create the fine lines and cross-hatching that define form and texture. This wasn't just a mechanical reproduction, but a labor-intensive translation of an image into a new medium. This emphasis on craft reminds us that even in processes that seem reproductive, human skill and judgment are central. It challenges distinctions between art and craft, revealing the artistry inherent in skilled making.