Portrait of a Man in an Arm Chair, from Collection d'imitations de Dessins d'après les Principaux Maîtres Hollandais et Flamands Possibly 1821

This print, Portrait of a Man in an Arm Chair, was made by Christian Josi sometime in the 18th or 19th century, using etching and possibly some hand-applied color. It's an interpretation of a drawing by one of the great masters, Rembrandt. But don’t think of this as merely a reproduction. Josi was working at a time when printmaking was less about accurately copying images, and more about creatively translating them. With its freely drawn lines and the soft texture created by the etching process, this print has an aesthetic all its own. The etching technique itself is also very important in understanding the social context of the artwork, allowing for the relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images. This made art more accessible to a wider audience, marking a shift in how art was consumed and valued. So, when we consider works like this, it reminds us that materials, making, and context all contribute to the artwork's meaning, challenging the rigid boundaries between different kinds of creative practices.