Portret van Andreas Ignatius Schaepman 1874 - 1882

Nicolaas Johannes Wilhelmus de Roode made this portrait of Andreas Ignatius Schaepman using lithography, a printmaking technique utilizing the chemical repulsion of oil and water. The process begins with a smooth stone or metal plate. The artist draws the portrait with a greasy crayon, which is then chemically fixed to the surface. The plate is dampened with water, which adheres only to the non-greased areas, and then inked. The ink sticks to the greasy image, and when pressed onto paper, the portrait emerges. Lithography enabled the relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images, democratizing art in a way that suited the rise of the middle class during the 19th century. In the case of this portrait, lithography allowed for the wide distribution of Schaepman's image, reinforcing his authority and influence within the Catholic community, and beyond. The very materiality and method of production thus contributed to the subject's social and political standing.