Alexander Paul Ludwig Konstantin 1840

This print of Alexander Paul Ludwig Konstantin was made by Johann Baptist Clarot. Lithography is an inherently social process; the image is drawn on a stone, often by a trained artist, then transferred through a chemical process to paper. In Clarot's time, lithography democratized image-making, creating cheaper and quicker ways of circulating images. Consider the opulence of the subject's uniform, a visual display of power and status meticulously rendered through the lithographic process. Note the intricate details of the embellishments, the precise lines indicating layers of fabric, buttons, braids, and medals. Lithography allowed for the wide distribution of such images, shaping perceptions of authority. By focusing on the materials and modes of production, we can appreciate how this image, and others like it, participate in the social and political life of their time, challenging traditional distinctions between fine art and craft.