Portret van Friedrich Leopold, graaf van Stolberg

Friedrich Rossmässler created this portrait of Friedrich Leopold, Count of Stolberg, sometime in the early 19th century. It's an etching, a printmaking process that uses acid to cut into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper. The dense hatching across the Count's face and clothing speaks to the etcher's skill. Look closely and you can see how subtle gradations of light and shadow have been achieved. The effect is all the more remarkable, considering that Rossmässler would have had to apply the acid in a controlled way, stopping and starting the process, to achieve this effect. Etchings like this were a mainstay of the print industry at this time. They were relatively quick to produce, and could be made in large numbers. As such, they played an important role in circulating images of prominent figures like the Count of Stolberg – helping to shape public opinion, and contributing to a growing culture of celebrity. It is an artwork that prompts us to consider how printmaking was tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption.