Portret van Wenzel Messenhauser 1848 - 1899

This is a portrait of Wenzel Messenhauser, Chief of the Vienna National Guard, by F. Randel. The portrait is created on paper through lithography, a printmaking process that relies on the chemical repulsion between oil and water. The process begins with a design drawn onto a stone or metal plate with a greasy crayon. The stone is then treated with a mixture of acid and gum arabic, etching the areas not protected by the grease. When the surface is inked, the ink adheres only to the greasy image. The image is then transferred onto paper with a press. Lithography allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images, making art more accessible to a wider audience. Here, the choice of lithography as a medium is significant as it democratizes the image of a public figure, aligning with the political ideals of the National Guard that Messenhauser led. This reflects the shifting social and political landscape of the time. Considering materials, processes, and context allows us to understand how art is interwoven with culture.