Portret van Georg Jung 1840 - 1855

This is Johann Leonhard Raab's portrait of Georg Jung, made using line engraving, a printmaking technique involving cutting lines into a metal plate. Think about the labor involved. Each line you see was physically carved by hand, demanding precision and control. The material itself, copper or steel, resists the tool, requiring force and skill to shape the image. Raab carefully manipulated these lines to create tone, texture, and form, capturing the likeness of Jung with remarkable detail. The social context here is the rise of print culture. Engravings like this one made images more accessible, allowing for wider distribution of portraits beyond the elite. They are a testament to the engraver's mastery, but also a reflection of the increasing democratization of visual representation. By focusing on the material and process of creation, we gain a richer understanding of the artwork's value, appreciating the skill and labor embedded within the image.