Forarbejde til to af hovederne til stikket: Frederik d. Store rider hjem efter en revy ved Potsdam 1788

J.F. Clemens made this drawing on paper of Frederick the Great, sometime before 1831. It served as a preparatory study for an engraving. Look closely and you can see the artist exploring the contours and details of the king's face and elaborate attire. The pencil lines are delicate, almost tentative, revealing the artist's process of discovery and refinement. The use of hatching and shading gives depth to the figure, bringing the king to life on the page. Engraving was a skilled craft, requiring years of training to master the use of burins and other specialized tools. The resulting prints had great social significance, circulating images and ideas widely in an age before photography. By focusing on the material and making of this drawing, we gain insight into the artistic practices of the time, and the broader cultural landscape in which it was created. It reminds us that every artwork, even a seemingly simple sketch, is the product of human skill, labor, and ingenuity.