Portret van een onbekende man die zijn veer snijdt 1847 - 1889

William Unger created this print of an unknown man cutting his quill, using etching and drypoint. The image is made from a metal plate, likely copper, which the artist would have painstakingly worked on, using sharp tools to create lines and textures. This incised plate is then inked, and pressed onto paper. The drypoint technique gives a velvety quality to the darker areas, a result of the burr left by the needle as it scratches the metal. Consider how Unger, working in the 19th century, chose these labor-intensive techniques. Photography was quickly developing as a way to document likeness, but printmaking retained a special status, offering subtle gradations and a handmade quality that a photograph could not match. The act of "cutting" the plate mirrors the sitter's action, creating a unique link between subject and artistic process. Ultimately, appreciating the artistry of this print invites us to reflect on the value of skilled handwork in an age of mass production.