Portret van Lodewijk I van Beieren 1826 - 1855

Editor: Here we have Johann Michael Eberlein’s "Portret van Lodewijk I van Beieren," dating from 1826 to 1855. It's a print, an engraving to be exact, residing here at the Rijksmuseum. I am struck by the crisp detail achieved with engraving. What stands out to you about this piece? Curator: I find it interesting to consider the process. Engravings such as this were reproducible. We must think about it in terms of democratization of the image. It facilitates wider circulation beyond the elite circles traditionally commissioning portraits. The labor involved in creating the matrix from which these prints are made—that's where the value lies, in the skilled hand replicating this image, in turn circulating an idealised version of Bavarian kingship to the masses. Editor: So you're saying its value isn't necessarily in the artistic merit, but in its function as a replicable object and its accessibility? Curator: Precisely. Think about the materials: the metal plate, the paper, the ink, and the expertise required. Each component played a crucial role. Moreover, let's examine the societal context of Romanticism and how prints like these fed into the growth of national identity and even played a crucial part in political propaganda. Where did the engraver learn their craft? How were such skills passed along? How might such imagery support or challenge the social order of the era? Editor: I never thought of it that way before. I was so focused on the man himself, King Ludwig, but looking at it as a produced object and its role is fascinating. Curator: Considering art in this way allows us to appreciate it beyond just aesthetics, shifting the focus towards labor, accessibility, and the broader social impact of reproducible art. It is always about who made this possible and for whom. Editor: I learned so much from our talk about this engraving! It is fascinating to consider the context in which the art was created and circulated, beyond its pure aesthetic value. Curator: Indeed. There are worlds behind and around it for us to consider.