Portret van Peter Jordan - David Weiss

A refined stipple engraving by David Weiss, capturing the likeness of Peter Jordan in a formal, classic portrait style.

This stipple engraving by David Weiss depicts Peter Jordan, a figure of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The work demonstrates the technical precision characteristic of the stipple method, a technique that uses dots of varying density to create tonal gradations and soft modelling of the subject's features. The portrait is presented within a classic oval frame, a common convention for formal portraiture of the period, which directs the viewer's attention to the sitter's expression and attire.

Peter Jordan is shown in a three-quarter view, wearing a coat with a high collar and a cravat, reflecting the formal dress of the era. The artist, David Weiss, was an Austrian engraver known for his ability to translate painted portraits into the medium of print. The original painting for this engraving was executed by Joseph Kappeller, as indicated by the inscription at the base of the print. The collaboration between painter and engraver was a standard practice for disseminating likenesses of public figures, scholars, and officials during this time.

Technically, the print relies on the subtle application of dots to define the contours of the face and the texture of the clothing. The background within the oval is rendered with a denser concentration of stippling, providing a contrast that brings the subject forward. The surrounding paper remains largely unworked, maintaining a clean, minimalist aesthetic that is typical of museum-grade prints from this era. This piece offers a clear example of the reproductive printmaking traditions that allowed for the wide circulation of portraiture in Europe before the advent of photography. It remains a study in the balance between technical discipline and the capture of individual character.