Portret van Anna Baltazzi-Ugarte Possibly 1880 - 1884

This is an anonymous portrait of Anna Baltazzi-Ugarte. It’s been made with the traditional printmaking technique of lithography – printing from a flat stone or metal plate. Notice how the lithographic process renders the textures of Anna’s clothes in such detail. Her hat and sleeves have been rendered to mimic fur. There are multiple layers of decoration across her gown, and on the chair that she leans on. All these layers speak to her family’s wealth. But it’s also worth considering that they are the products of many other people's labor. The making of fabric was an industry employing thousands, and the fashions of the elite drove this industry forward. Lithography itself played a role in the creation of the modern economy, making it possible to reproduce images and text on an unprecedented scale. So we can see this portrait as a result of the system that supports the sitter, not just a reflection of her personal identity. Appreciating the material origins of an artwork, as well as the social context of its making, can give us a richer understanding of its meanings.