Portret van Elisabeth Ludovika, koningin van Pruisen 1821 - 1840

This portrait of Elisabeth Ludovika, Queen of Prussia, was made by Friedrich Wilhelm Linger using a technique called stipple engraving. Stipple engraving is an intaglio process, meaning that the image is incised into a metal plate, in this case most likely copper. The artist would have used a tool to create thousands of tiny dots on the plate. When printed, these dots create subtle tonal variations, resulting in a soft, almost painterly effect. This method was popular for reproducing portraits, as it allowed for delicate rendering of skin tones and textures. The labor-intensive nature of stipple engraving meant that prints like these were relatively expensive, and available to a limited public. Consider too the social context here. Engravings like this one played a crucial role in disseminating images of royalty and nobility. They helped to construct and reinforce ideas about power, status, and beauty, and to disseminate those ideas to a broader public. By paying attention to the materiality and making of this print, we can better understand the complex social and cultural dynamics at play in its creation and consumption.