Portret van Louise van Pruisen 1878 - 1895

Jean Baptiste Alfred Cornilliet made this portrait of Louise van Pruisen using lithography, a printmaking technique using a stone or metal plate with a smooth surface. Lithography enabled the relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images. In this case, it allowed for the circulation of royal portraiture, reinforcing social hierarchies. The velvety blacks and subtle gradations of tone were achieved by applying grease to the plate, which then attracted ink, transferring the image to paper when pressed. Consider the contrast between the subject, a woman of obvious wealth and status, and the means of production, a process designed for wider accessibility. Lithography democratized image-making, yet here it serves to uphold an aristocratic ideal. This print reminds us that the materials and methods used to create an artwork are never neutral, but always carry social and cultural significance.