Groepsportret met drie dochters van Christoph Wilhelm Bock 1795

This is Christoph-Wilhelm Bock’s print, "Group Portrait with Three Daughters of Christoph Wilhelm Bock," made in 1795. Encased in an oval, the composition's subjects are three young sisters. The stark hatching and cross-hatching define the forms and delineate depth. Bock's manipulation of line directs our gaze. Notice how the varying densities of lines sculpt the figures and their garments. It’s in the way the lines coalesce, which provides volume and texture. Light and shadow play across the figures due to the meticulous application of these linear techniques. Bock’s print engages with representation and social dynamics. The arrangement, from the children's positioning to their interaction, speaks to the performative aspects of portraiture. This structured composition reinforces the sense that we are witnessing a staged familial harmony. The print itself becomes a signifier. The linearity, coupled with the controlled setting, embodies the formal and cultural codes of the period.