Portret van Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall 1808 - 1874

This is a portrait of Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall, made by Johann Nepomuk Passini. It's an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. Engraving is an intensive process that involves a high degree of skill; the sharp lines and fine details you see here are a testament to the engraver's artistry. This technique was the primary method for reproducing images, before the advent of photography. As such, it played a crucial role in disseminating knowledge and culture. Consider how the relatively small scale of the print would have allowed for easy distribution, and also appreciate that this was a commercial process. The engraver would have been commissioned, and the prints sold. This means that aesthetic judgements were made in response to economic demands and social trends, rather than just the artist's individual vision. Understanding the material and the making helps us to appreciate how this image circulated within a specific social and economic context, blurring the boundaries between art, craft, and commerce.