Maria Stuart’s Abschied von ihren Getreuen 1875

This print by Wilhelm von Kaulbach depicts Mary Stuart's farewell to her loyal followers. It’s an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. Look closely, and you’ll notice the crisp, precise lines that define the figures and their elaborate garments. The engraver's skill is evident in the way they capture the textures of fabric and the emotional intensity of the scene. The sharp contrast and fine details are achieved through the labor-intensive process of carving lines into the metal, demanding an expert hand. Prints like these circulated widely in the 19th century, functioning as a kind of mass media. The story of Mary Stuart was well known, with a wide audience; Kaulbach’s print made it accessible to a broad public, far beyond the realm of painting. Considering this work, we can appreciate how processes of production and reproduction influence our understanding of history and art.