Portret van Johann Heinrich Daniel Moldenhawer 1763

Editor: So, here we have a piece titled "Portret van Johann Heinrich Daniel Moldenhawer" made in 1763 by Johann Martin Bernigeroth. It's an engraving, a print. I'm struck by the level of detail achieved through this medium; you can see every strand of his wig. What do you make of it? Curator: For me, this work is fascinating in terms of its production. Engravings, like this one, democratized portraiture. Consider the labour involved: the meticulous process of etching the image onto a metal plate, the printing, and then distribution. Who was accessing these images, and what was the social function of reproducing and circulating images of figures like Moldenhawer? Editor: That’s an interesting point, the idea of making portraits more accessible. Were engravings like this replacing painted portraits, perhaps? Curator: Not necessarily replacing, but supplementing. Think about the market for images. While an oil painting was costly, a print could be acquired more easily by those of more modest means. And consider the raw materials involved. Metal plates, inks, paper… all commodities in a growing market. How did that relate to trade and resource extraction at the time? Editor: I never thought about it in those terms, of printmaking being so connected to the broader economy. It changes the way you see even a single portrait. Curator: Exactly. It moves beyond just aesthetics. What else strikes you now? Do you see any connections between the details within the image and the means by which it was produced and consumed? Editor: Thinking about it, perhaps the book he's holding isn’t just a symbol of knowledge, but also represents the wider printing and publishing industry, of which this engraving is also a part. I guess every element gains another layer. Curator: Precisely! Seeing art this way really opens up new avenues for interpretation. Editor: I'll definitely be thinking about the material reality behind artworks more often from now on. Curator: Indeed. Understanding art is never just about the surface. It’s about unveiling its layers and understanding its social life.