Portret van Georg Martin Preissler 1756

Valentin Daniel Preissler made this portrait of Georg Martin Preissler using black chalk and opaque watercolor. Look closely, and you can see the soft grain of the paper showing through the delicate washes of color. This isn’t oil paint on canvas, the refined medium of the high-status portrait. Instead, it's a work on paper, made with materials more often associated with preparatory sketches. Chalk allowed Preissler to achieve subtle gradations of tone and texture, mimicking the luxurious fabrics and powdered wig of his subject. Watercolor adds a translucent depth, capturing the light on his face. The choice of these media speaks volumes about the artistic ecosystem of the 18th century, where printmaking and drawing were essential skills. It highlights the value of artistry, and how skill transfers between the practices of craft and fine arts. Understanding the material choices helps us to appreciate the nuances of artistic expression in this period.