Portret van Wilhelmina van Pruisen 1815 - 1899

This is a portrait of Wilhelmina van Pruisen by Franz Krüger, made using a printmaking technique. Look closely, and you'll see the fine lines and stippling that give the image its form and tone. This print wasn't created with a single stroke of a brush like a painting. Instead, it’s the result of skilled labor. The artist, or perhaps a team of artisans, would have meticulously etched an image onto a metal plate, probably copper or steel, and then used that plate to create multiple impressions. The choice of printmaking democratizes the image. Unlike a unique painting accessible only to the wealthy, prints could be distributed more widely, making Wilhelmina's image available to a broader audience. This connects with larger social themes of the time, of class, labor, and the reach of power through visual representation. The print is not just an image, but also a product of labor, reflecting the changing landscape of art production and consumption.