Portret van Mateo de Moncada de Cardona 1646

This is "Portret van Mateo de Moncada de Cardona," made by Elias Widemann using an engraving technique. Engraving is an intaglio process; the image is incised into a plate, traditionally made of copper. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to carve lines into the metal. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling these grooves, and the surface is wiped clean. When paper is pressed against the plate, the image transfers, creating a print with distinctive, slightly raised lines. Look closely, and you'll notice the intricate detail achieved through this method. The textures of the sitter's hair and armor are all rendered with precision. This was a labor-intensive process, demanding considerable skill and time. Prints like this were relatively accessible compared to paintings. They played a crucial role in disseminating images and ideas across society, acting almost like a form of early mass media. The very material and making of this artwork, therefore, speak to broader issues of labor, consumption, and the circulation of images in the early modern period.