Wijzende man in harnas 1808

Frédéric Théodore Faber created this print, "Wijzende man in harnas" or "Pointing Man in Armor," sometime before 1844. It depicts a scene of Astolfo in the dwelling of Atlas. Now, what's fascinating is how Faber, working in a period of burgeoning museums and art historical scholarship, engages with the Renaissance master, Michelangelo. The inscription tells us this print is after a painting by Michelangelo, which may or may not be true. Regardless, Faber is participating in the construction of an artistic lineage, positioning himself in relation to a recognized genius. Moreover, consider the print medium itself. Prints allowed for the wider dissemination of images, democratizing access to art, even if filtered through the interpretations of artists like Faber. To fully understand this print, we might delve into the history of printmaking, the rise of the art market, and the construction of artistic canons. Through such research, we can understand the social life of this image and its place within the cultural landscape of 19th-century Europe.