Portret van Henriette Plötzer before 1905

This is an undated portrait of Henriette Plötzer by C. Steckmest, made using lithography, a printmaking technique which relies on the resistance between grease and water. The process begins with a smooth stone or metal plate. The artist draws the image on the surface with a greasy crayon, then treats it with a chemical etch. When dampened, the stone repels water in the areas where the crayon was used, but retains it elsewhere. An oil-based ink is then applied, sticking only to the greasy image. Finally, the image is transferred to paper using a press. Lithography allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images, contributing to the rise of mass media. The process also allowed for subtle tonal variations, visible here in the delicate shading of Henriette's face and clothing. It’s easy to overlook printmaking, but it’s essential to remember that the medium is every bit as important as the image it bears. In this case, lithography democratized portraiture, making images of people like Henriette available to a wider audience.