Portret van Victor Hugo 1812 - 1840

Ernst Ludwig Riepenhausen made this portrait of Victor Hugo using engraving, a printmaking technique, on paper. Look closely, and you can appreciate the labor and skill that went into this image. With an engraving, the artist uses a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate. That plate is then inked and used to make prints. The fineness of the lines speaks to Riepenhausen's mastery, and his commitment to capturing Hugo's likeness through sheer manual effort. Engraving like this was, in its time, a reproductive technology. It allowed images to be circulated widely, contributing to the cult of celebrity. Consider how this portrait, multiplied and distributed, played a role in shaping Hugo's public image. It's a reminder that even seemingly straightforward images are the product of skilled work, and have social and cultural effects. When we consider this, we begin to challenge traditional ideas about high art versus craft.