Portret van Ernst

About this artwork

staalgravure

Art Historical Context

"Portret van Ernst" is a refined steel engraving by Edouard Taurel, created sometime between 1841 and 1879. Measuring 266 by 176 millimeters, the modest scale suits the intimate nature of portraiture, allowing viewers to appreciate the meticulous linework that defines facial features and subtle expressions. The Dutch title and medium description indicate its origin within a European tradition of reproductive printmaking popular throughout the nineteenth century. Steel engraving offered artists a durable plate capable of producing numerous high-quality impressions, far surpassing earlier coppe...

About the Artist

Edouard Taurel · 1824–1892

Charles Edouard Taurel (1824–1892) was a Dutch engraver and illustrator whose career exemplified the continued vitality of steel engraving and etching in the Netherlands during the nineteenth century. Working primarily in Amsterdam, Taurel specialized in portrait engravings of Dutch historical figures and topographical views of Amsterdam and its surroundings. His work served both commemorative fun...