Portret van Franz Balthasar Schönberg von Brenkenhoff 1771

This portrait of Franz Balthasar Schönberg von Brenkenhoff was made by Daniel Nikolaus Chodowiecki using etching, a printmaking technique that democratized image production in the 18th century. The fine lines we see are not drawn directly. Instead, the artist would have coated a metal plate with wax, scratched an image into the wax with a needle, and then bathed the plate in acid. This would bite away the exposed metal, leaving an impression that could then be inked and printed. Think of it: this process allows for the multiplication of images. It reflects a shift from unique, hand-made artworks to reproducible designs, aligning with early capitalist modes of production. The image is no longer just for the elite, but can be distributed and consumed by a wider audience. So, while the portrait depicts a member of the aristocracy, the very medium used to create it speaks to a changing social order, where art and information become more accessible.