Portret van Louis Antoine Leon de Saint-Just 1868 - 1889

Laurent Hotelin made this print of Louis Antoine Leon de Saint-Just using a special technique. This isn't painting or sculpture, but printmaking, where the image is carved into a surface, inked, and then pressed onto paper. Hotelin's choice of printmaking has social significance. Prints can be easily reproduced, making them more accessible than unique artworks, which democratizes art. The texture and detail achieved is a result of the engraver’s skilled hand; note the density of tiny, carefully placed lines and dots. Consider the amount of labor it took to create this artwork, and its wider circulation to reach a broader audience. This print shows how the world of art and politics intersect.