Portret van jonkheer Jan Six 1897

Theo Molkenboer’s ‘Portret van jonkheer Jan Six’ is a lithograph, a printmaking technique using a flat stone or metal plate. The artist draws an image with a greasy substance, then applies ink which adheres only to the drawn areas. Lithography is a particularly interesting medium. Unlike painting or sculpture, which are unique, it lends itself to reproduction. This connects it to the rise of mass media and consumer culture. This portrait is not just a likeness of Jan Six; it’s an object made within a specific mode of production, one that democratizes images. The very act of printing makes the image accessible, transforming the way society consumes art. The intricate detail achieved by Molkenboer also speaks to his mastery of the medium. He coaxes a wide range of tones and textures from what is essentially a very simple chemical process. It elevates the medium, and invites us to reconsider the boundary between fine art and more commercial forms of printmaking. So next time you look at a print, think about the labor, the technology, and the social context that made it possible.