Portret van Cornelis Kruseman 1829 - 1853

Adrianus Johannes Ehnle created this portrait of Cornelis Kruseman, using lithography. It's a printmaking technique that relies on the resistance between grease and water. The artist would have drawn the image onto a flat stone with a greasy crayon, then treat the stone so that ink only sticks to the drawn areas. The final print picks up every subtle mark and texture, allowing for delicate gradations of tone and detail. Lithography allowed for relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction, making images more accessible to a wider audience. The process itself – the labor of drawing, the chemical treatment, the printing – speaks to the democratization of art in the 19th century. It moves away from unique, handcrafted artworks toward mechanically reproduced images, reflecting changing social and economic structures. By understanding the materials and processes behind this portrait, we can appreciate how it reflects broader shifts in art, technology, and society.