Portret van Georg Stephan Wiesand 1794

Editor: This is Johann Gottfried Schmidt's "Portret van Georg Stephan Wiesand" from 1794. It’s an engraving, and the fine lines are just incredible! It really feels like you could reach out and touch the fabric of his coat. I’m curious, what stands out to you about this portrait? Curator: The fascinating thing is the engraving process itself. Think about the labor involved. Each line meticulously carved, the matrix inked, the pressure applied. The image is multiplied, democratizing access to this likeness, yet reliant on skilled craftsmanship. What does this tension between mass production and artisanal skill suggest to you? Editor: Well, I guess it's highlighting how even reproducible art is still dependent on the skill of the individual making it. Does the choice of engraving itself, instead of painting for example, affect the way we view Wiesand? Curator: Absolutely. Engraving as a medium carried its own set of social and political implications. Prints were commodities. Schmidt is not only creating an image of Wiesand, but he’s also producing a *thing*, subject to market forces. Does knowing this shift your interpretation of the portrait’s meaning? Editor: It does! I was so focused on the image itself. I hadn't considered its existence as an object of production and consumption. It makes me think about who could afford it and what that meant. Curator: Exactly! It's about interrogating the system that brought this image into being and what it represents in a broader cultural and economic landscape. We're not just looking *at* art; we’re understanding *through* its materials and production. Editor: I never thought about approaching a portrait quite this way. It is interesting to move away from only focusing on art historical contexts or aesthetic qualities of the artworks. Curator: Precisely! The materiality and means of production can be just as insightful. Thank you for sharing that thought, as your remarks add a deeper consideration to our audio guide.