Portret van Ferdinand Jacobus Domela Nieuwenhuis 1851

This is a portrait of Ferdinand Domela Nieuwenhuis, made by Leonard de Koningh, likely sometime in the mid-19th century. It’s a print, which means that it was made by transferring an image from one surface to another, allowing for multiples to be produced. Prints such as these have a fascinating relationship to social class. On the one hand, they could carry likenesses of the powerful, disseminating their image and reinforcing their status. On the other hand, the very technology of printing allowed for mass communication and the exchange of ideas. Notice the fine lines that create tone and shadow. These are achieved through a variety of techniques, but all require a skilled hand. The making of prints like these involved division of labor; some artists would draw the initial image, while others would be responsible for the actual printing. The person who created the image often received more recognition than those who reproduced it. This portrait, then, serves as a reminder of how the technologies of reproduction, though seemingly neutral, are always embedded in social relationships.