Portret van Jacobus Ludovicus Conradus Schroeder van der Kolk 1849

This portrait of Jacobus Ludovicus Conradus Schroeder van der Kolk was made by Pieter Wilhelmus van de Weijer, though the exact date is unknown. It’s a lithograph, which is a printmaking technique using a stone or metal plate with a smooth surface. The use of lithography here is significant. This process allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images, which democratized portraiture to some extent. Unlike painted portraits, which were exclusive to the wealthy, lithographs made likenesses more accessible to a wider audience. The texture, weight and color are inherent to the printing processes, which involved skilled labor. Lithography also speaks to broader social issues of labor, politics, and consumption in the 19th century. The process involves specialized skills, from preparing the printing surface to operating the press, reflecting the rise of industrial production and its impact on the art world. By considering the material and making of this portrait, we move beyond traditional notions of fine art and see it as a product of its time, shaped by the forces of technology and society.