Portret van Hans Rieter von und zu Kornburg 1595 - 1628

This portrait of Hans Rieter von und zu Kornburg was made around 1620 by Hans Troschel, and it's an engraving. Consider how the lines were incised onto a metal plate with a tool called a burin, and then printed onto paper. Troschel's skill is evident in the fineness of the lines, capturing the texture of fabric and the sheen of armor. The amount of labor to produce this portrait is considerable, as it is a detailed image with a lot of hatching. The image also reveals the sitter's status, someone important and wealthy, and it speaks to the early modern world of power and patronage. While engravings are often seen as less "artistic" than painting, works like this demonstrate the skill and artistry involved in printmaking. It also shows the increasing availability of images during this period, and how they shaped our understanding of the world. So, next time you see a print, think about the process, the labor, and the social context that brought it into being.