Christian August Lorentzen 1800 - 1849

This print, portraying Christian August Lorentzen, was created by N. Chr. Kierkegaard. The technique used here is stipple engraving. This process involves using a tool to create tiny dots on a metal plate. Ink fills these dots, and when pressed onto paper, they form the image. The density of the dots creates the tonal range we see, from light to shadow. Notice the soft, almost granular texture this gives the portrait, quite different from the sharp lines of other engraving methods. Consider the labor involved. Each dot painstakingly placed by hand. This was a time before photography dominated portraiture. Prints like these were a key way to disseminate images and solidify the status of important figures. The artistry lies not just in the likeness, but also in the meticulous craft that went into creating the printing plate, a testament to skill and patience. Appreciating the labor-intensive process invites us to reconsider the value we place on images in our own age of mass production.