Portret van Christoph August Reichel 1774

This is Christoph-Wilhelm Bock’s portrait of Christoph August Reichel, made with etching and engraving. The process of creating the portrait, involving the careful application of acid to incise lines on a metal plate, then printing it, speaks volumes about the sitter's status. A labor-intensive technique like this would have been reserved for commemorating the elite. Look at the details achieved in Reichel's ruffled collar and the texture of his coat. The meticulousness of the printmaking mirrors the sitter’s importance as an inspector and professor. The starkness of the monochrome print also evokes a sense of formality and intellectual gravitas. It invites us to consider the social context in which such portraits were commissioned and consumed. The printmaking process also allowed for multiples to be made, indicating the sitter's status should be publicly recognized. Understanding Bock's methods helps us appreciate how this print served as a kind of social currency, reflecting the values and hierarchies of its time.