Portret van Hermann von Petkum op 64-jarige leeftijd 1674 - 1682

This is a portrait of Hermann von Petkum at age 64, made by Hieronymus van Hensbergen using engraving, a printmaking technique capable of capturing fine detail. Look closely and you can see how the process influences the image's appearance. The density of engraved lines creates tone and shadow, giving form to Petkum's face, clothes, and elaborate ruff. To create this level of detail, the artist would have used a tool called a burin to incise lines directly into a metal plate, which was then inked and printed. The precision of the engraving captures not just Petkum's likeness, but also his status and the broader social context of the time. The labor-intensive process speaks to the value placed on craftsmanship and the time required to produce such an image. By appreciating the materials, the making, and the context, we gain a deeper insight into the artistic achievement.