Portret van een onbekende man met baret 1765

This portrait of an unknown man with a beret was made by Johann Gottfried Haid. It's an etching, a printmaking technique that relies on acid to bite into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed on paper. The magic of etching lies in its capacity to capture incredibly fine detail, and the burred texture of the lines. Here, look closely and you'll see how the artist has used these qualities to render the sheen on the sitter's garments, the delicate lace at his wrists, and the smooth texture of his face. But etching wasn't just a technique, it was also a business. Printmaking allowed images to be reproduced and disseminated widely. This portrait, like many others from the period, would have served to circulate a particular image of status and refinement. Haid wasn't just making art, he was participating in a burgeoning visual culture, one that democratized access to imagery but also reinforced social hierarchies. So, next time you look at a print, think not only about the artistry, but also about the broader world of production and consumption that it inhabited.