Portret van Josef Geirnaert 1827

This is a portrait of Josef Geirnaert, made by Eugène Verboeckhoven using lithography. This printmaking technique involves drawing an image with a greasy crayon onto a flat limestone or metal plate. What’s interesting here is the relationship between this method and the rise of industrialization. Lithography was revolutionary because it allowed for relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images. This fueled the growth of commercial art and mass media in the 19th century, impacting traditional artistic practices. Consider how lithography democratized image-making, making portraits like this more accessible to a wider audience. This shift changed the role of the artist in society. No longer was their labor focused on unique, one-off creations for the elite, but on producing multiples for a growing consumer market. Understanding the material and social context of lithography allows us to see this portrait not just as a likeness, but as a product of a changing world.