Bildnis des Reproduktionsstechers Eisenhardt 

Antonie von Blittersdorf rendered this portrait of the printmaker Eisenhardt with oil on canvas. The thick application of paint and visible brushstrokes give the painting a vitality that is often lost in reproductive prints. Blittersdorf’s choice of oil is significant when considering the social context of this portrait. As a printmaker, Eisenhardt was engaged in a reproductive process, translating existing artworks into a more accessible medium for mass consumption. Oil painting, by contrast, was associated with originality and the unique touch of the artist. The materiality of oil paint, its capacity for layering and blending, allowed Blittersdorf to capture the likeness of Eisenhardt. The portrait commemorates the skilled labor involved in both painting and printmaking, reminding us that all forms of artistic production require expertise, and contribute to a wider cultural landscape. By celebrating the work involved, Blittersdorf elevates what was seen as a more utilitarian craft to the status of fine art.