Portret van Auguste, Fürstin von Liegnitz c. 1829 - 1840

This is a portrait of Auguste, Fürstin von Liegnitz, created by Franz Xaver Stöber, a 19th century artist, though the date of creation is unknown. It’s a print, likely made using a technique like lithography or engraving, where the image is etched onto a plate and then transferred to paper. The fineness of the lines, defining her delicate features and elaborate hairstyle, speaks to the skill involved in this process, which would have required both technical expertise and artistic sensibility. Prints like this one were crucial in disseminating images widely, making art and portraiture accessible to a broader audience beyond the wealthy elite who could commission paintings. Consider this print's role within a burgeoning culture of image reproduction, and a growing middle class who desired access to art and culture. It collapses boundaries between high art and craft.