Portret van een onbekende man met geruite strik c. 1851 - 1883

Johan Hendrik Hoffmeister rendered this ‘Portret van een onbekende man met geruite strik’ with lithography, a printing process that democratized image-making during the 19th century. Lithography relies on the simple principle that oil and water don't mix. The artist would have drawn the portrait onto a flat stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon. This drawing then attracts ink, while the surrounding wet areas repel it. Paper is pressed against the surface, transferring the image. It’s a relatively quick and inexpensive way to produce multiple copies, which accounts for its popularity. Hoffmeister's choice of lithography connects this portrait to the rise of mass media. Unlike unique paintings, lithographs like this one could circulate widely, making images more accessible to a broader public. This shift had huge implications for art and culture, challenging the traditional association of portraiture with the wealthy elite. It is no longer about a patron commissioning an artwork, but about production. And it is important to remember that this democratization would not have been possible without the often unseen labour of those running the printing presses.