Portret van Franz Neumayr 1754 - 1797

Editor: Here we have “Portrait of Franz Neumayr,” an engraving made between 1754 and 1797 by Jacob Joseph Clausner. I find it intriguing how much detail he packed into such a small print. What stands out to you? Curator: I am struck by the materials used and their availability within that specific societal context. Think about the engraver and his tools; each mark required dedicated labor. This wasn't high art made from expensive pigments. This was a reproducible image for broader circulation. Consider the paper, likely of considerable value but less exclusive than a canvas. Editor: That's interesting. It feels like we are focusing on something less immediate. How does this lens change your understanding of the sitter in the image, Franz Neumayr? Curator: Neumayr isn't just some face in a frame. He is carefully constructed, his image produced through specific materials and labor. Consider the labor and materials used in service of disseminating this priest’s image – essentially turning him into a brand or a commodity, making him reproducible. Think of the implications for religious authority. Editor: So the material and production emphasize distribution to me! Was this image trying to accomplish? Curator: The material aspects shaped consumption. Unlike an oil painting hanging in a wealthy patron's home, this engraving could reach a wider audience, thus influencing spiritual and even political spheres. The consumption of his image solidifies something of his importance. It wasn't just about piety, it was also about power structures using accessible materials to reinforce control. Editor: I never considered an engraving in terms of commodity and influence, I guess it makes sense. Curator: Examining the materials forces us to confront these questions. By interrogating the relationship of labor, material, and consumption we confront the true historical scope this print carries with it.