Portret van Martinus Nijhoff 1895

Jan Veth rendered this portrait of Martinus Nijhoff using lithography, a printmaking process that relies on the subtle interaction of grease and water on a smooth stone or metal plate. The soft, granular quality of the image stems from the artist's application of a greasy crayon to the lithographic stone. Veth likely worked with a master printer, whose skilled labor was crucial in transferring the image to paper. This collaborative aspect reminds us that printmaking is both an artistic and an industrial activity. Consider the social context: portraits like this were often commissioned by the sitter or their family, circulating images of status and intellect. Yet, in its embrace of a repeatable medium, the portrait also hints at a modern world of mass production. Paying attention to the processes and materials used helps us to appreciate the complex layers of meaning embedded in this image, moving beyond a simple likeness to understand its place in a changing world.