Portret van Sophie Elisabeth, Gräfin Reuß-Untergreiz 1734

This print of Sophie Elisabeth, Countess Reuß-Untergreiz, was made by Johann Wilhelm Windter, likely as a commission. As an engraving, it is a direct product of labor. The image is achieved through incising lines into a metal plate, a process demanding high levels of skill and precision. The material of the print, paper, is itself notable. By the 18th century, paper was becoming more widely available thanks to industrial manufacturing. Prints like these helped to feed a growing market for images. They became a means for circulating likenesses, ideas, and styles. Note the contrasting textures of the Countess's clothing and skin, achieved through the density and direction of the engraved lines. This skilled rendering of form and material demonstrates the engraver's mastery. The commercialization of such skills blurred the boundaries between craft and fine art, making prints a vital form of visual communication.