Portret van Canis Scaliger 1549 - 1575

This is a small portrait of Canis Scaliger, made by an anonymous artist using engraving techniques. Look closely, and you’ll see how the image is entirely constructed from lines, etched into a metal plate. Think of the labor involved in manually creating each of these marks! The lines are cross-hatched to create areas of shading, giving a sense of volume to Scaliger's face and clothing. The engraver would have used specialized tools to achieve this level of detail, demonstrating mastery over the intaglio process. Engraving has a long history, dating back to antiquity. It’s a reproductive medium that allowed for the wide distribution of images. So, while this may seem like a straightforward portrait, it's also a testament to the power of printmaking in disseminating knowledge and ideas. It invites us to consider the skilled labor involved in its production, and how this craft has shaped our visual culture.