Portret van Johannes Henricus Scholten c. 1851 - 1883

This portrait of Johannes Henricus Scholten was made by Johan Hendrik Hoffmeister using lithography, a printmaking process using a flat stone or metal plate. Lithography was a revolutionary technology in the 19th century. Unlike earlier printmaking methods that relied on laborious carving, lithography allowed for a more direct transfer of an image, a sort of mechanical reproduction. You can see the fine detail achieved here. Hoffmeister has masterfully captured Scholten's likeness, from the texture of his hair to the subtle nuances of his expression. Consider the social implications of this process: lithography democratized image-making, making portraits like this accessible to a wider audience. It's a fascinating intersection of art, technology, and social change, where the means of production directly influenced who got to be seen and remembered. It challenges the traditional hierarchies of art, inviting us to consider the role of craft and technology in shaping our cultural landscape.