Portret van onbekende man 1809 - 1871

This "Portret van onbekende man" (Portrait of an Unknown Man) was made with lithography in an unknown year by an anonymous artist. Lithography is a printmaking process based on the chemical repulsion of oil and water, which allows for the creation of editions of artworks. The lithographic stone or metal plate is drawn on with a greasy substance, then treated with acid. The greasy areas retain ink while the non-greasy areas repel it. The image is then transferred to paper. Here, this process has allowed the artist to create smooth tonal gradations and capture fine details. The proliferation of printmaking was critical to the development of mass media. The labour involved in the production process is somewhat removed in this type of reproductive image. So, next time you look at a print, consider the historical, social, and economic context in which it was made, and its contribution to the circulation of images and ideas. This challenges our perception of lithographs as either fine art or craft, highlighting the significance of materials and processes in understanding its meaning.