Portret van Anne Campbell 1762

James McArdell created this mezzotint portrait of Anne Campbell in 1762. Consider it as a cultural artifact, a visual document reflecting the social hierarchies of 18th-century Britain. Mezzotint, a printmaking technique, allowed for rich tonal gradations, perfectly suited to capturing the textures of silk, pearls, and fur, all signifiers of wealth and status. The work reproduces a painting by Joshua Reynolds, the most fashionable portraitist of the day. This reproductive print served to disseminate images of the elite, reinforcing their social prominence and influence. The Rijksmuseum’s acquisition of such a print speaks to the enduring power of portraiture and the interest in collecting images of historical figures. To fully understand the portrait's significance, art historians turn to genealogical records, fashion history, and studies of the print market. These help us understand how visual culture shaped social perceptions and perpetuated power structures of the time.