Portret van Arn. van Gennep Possibly 1847

Johann Peter Bergahus made this portrait of Arn. van Gennep in the Netherlands, using lithography on paper. The lithographic process is crucial to understanding this image. Unlike painting or drawing directly onto paper, lithography involves a chemical process. The artist draws on a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon, then applies ink which adheres only to the greasy areas. This allows for the production of multiple, relatively inexpensive copies. Consider how this material process relates to social context. Lithography democratized image-making, making portraits like this accessible to a wider audience than traditional painted portraits. It reflects the rise of industrial production, where images, like other goods, could be replicated and consumed. The very texture of the print, with its subtle grain and tonal variations, speaks to this intersection of art and industry. So, next time you look at a print, remember that its apparent simplicity belies a complex history of materials, making, and social change.