Portret van François Vincent Henri Antoine de Stuers before 1861

This is a portrait of François Vincent Henri Antoine de Stuers, made by Augustin Luc Demoussy. The medium here is lithography, a printmaking process that relies on the contrast between greasy and water-receptive areas on a flat stone or metal plate. The image is built up from countless tiny marks, each one laid down with care and precision. Demoussy must have spent hours, days even, rendering the textures of fabric, metal, and skin, all these details attesting to the high level of craft involved. The finished product speaks volumes about the social context of the time. Lithography allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images, making them accessible to a wider audience. This portrait, with its fine detail and masterful execution, speaks to the aspirations of a rising middle class, eager to emulate the style and status of the elite. It’s a reminder that even seemingly simple materials can be imbued with complex social and cultural meanings through the skill and labor of the artist.