Portret van Elisabeth Christina, koningin van Pruissen 1725 - 1754

This is a print of Elisabeth Christina, Queen of Prussia, created by Johann Christoph Hafner. It's made with engraving, a process that involves cutting lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. The dense lines create a rich range of tones, capturing the textures of the Queen's elaborate dress and powdered wig. Look closely, and you'll see how the engraver used different densities of lines to create the illusion of light and shadow. Engraving was a highly skilled craft, demanding precision and control. The engraver was not only a technician, but also an interpreter, translating the likeness of the Queen into a reproducible image. Prints like these were luxury goods, but they also played a key role in circulating images and ideas, contributing to the construction of royal identity. By focusing on the process of engraving, we can appreciate the labor and skill involved in creating this portrait, and its place in a wider culture of image-making and consumption.