Portret van August Hermann Niemeyer c. 1829 - 1840

Editor: So, this is "Portret van August Hermann Niemeyer" by Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Müller, created sometime between 1829 and 1840. It's a print, likely made with graphite, and it feels very formal. What strikes you about it? Curator: I'm drawn to the method of production here. Consider the labour involved in creating this print. How does the process of reproducing this image, through the technology available at the time, affect our understanding of the subject, Niemeyer? The very act of printing suggests a desire for wider circulation, perhaps aligning with Niemeyer's position as a public figure. Editor: That’s interesting, I hadn’t thought about the reproductive aspect. Does the medium of print affect the message? Curator: Absolutely. The choice of a reproducible medium like print suggests the intention to democratize the image, moving it away from the exclusive realm of painting. It also speaks to the evolving relationship between art, industry, and consumption during that period. How would a hand drawn drawing effect things differently than a lithograph that could be made over and over again in quick succession? Editor: It makes me think about the rise of portraiture among the middle classes at that time, making likenesses accessible. The print is also interesting as the drawing underneath could have been quickly copied onto a plate to reproduce. So we think about the cost of the art and materials and their labor compared to a hand-painted piece. Curator: Exactly! This is less about the sitter and more about means. This is the commodification of art, in which the artist is working with reproducibility of an item to make money. What do you make of Neoclassicism in this setting? Editor: It highlights a moment of technological shifts which allowed many artists to benefit! I am really appreciating looking at this piece from this perspective now! Curator: Me too!