Christian VII 1859 - 1860

Bernhard Olsen made this print of Christian VII using engraving, a process involving cutting lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. The material qualities of the print—the fine lines, the contrast between light and shadow—derive directly from the engraver’s technique. Engraving demands precision and control. Each mark is carefully considered, building up the image through a network of deliberate cuts. You can think of printmaking as a craft deeply intertwined with social and political life. In Olsen’s time, printed images were a primary means of disseminating information, shaping public opinion, and propagating ideals of nationhood. The detailed rendering of Christian VII’s attire speaks to the importance of clothing as a marker of status. Ultimately, this print reminds us that art is not just about representation, but also about production, labor, and the circulation of images in society.