Portret van Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock 1723 - 1767

Johann Martin Bernigeroth made this print of Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock, but we don't know when. Bernigeroth was a German engraver active in the middle of the 18th century. Klopstock was a famous poet of his day. The portrait is presented in an oval frame, set into a classical plinth. These conventions of the print medium were widespread at the time. The print was a means of circulating imagery, and the printing workshop was an important institution in the production and consumption of images. The rise of printmaking in the 18th century allowed for the wide circulation of images and ideas. This had profound implications for art and society. Prints allowed people to have access to art and information like never before and contributed to the development of public opinion. The historian examines these kinds of images to understand the conditions that shaped artistic production. They consult primary source documents, such as letters, diaries, and newspapers to better understand its historical context.