Portret van Friedrich Karl Joseph, Reichsfreiherr von Erthal 1764 - 1813

This portrait of Friedrich Karl Joseph was made by Jeremias Paul Schweyer, likely in the late 18th or early 19th century. It is a print, meaning that it would have been made by carving an image into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing paper against it to transfer the image. Looking closely, you can see that the image is made up of tiny lines and dots. The printmaking process allows for the reproduction of images on a mass scale, making art more accessible. But it also speaks to the labor involved in creating each individual print, and the skill required to create such a detailed image. While it may not have been considered high art at the time, prints like this played an important role in disseminating information and ideas, and in shaping public opinion. They remind us that art is not just about individual genius, but also about the social and economic forces that shape its production and consumption.