Portret van Cornelius Hermann von Ayrenhoff 1778 - 1813

This portrait of Cornelius Hermann von Ayrenhoff was made by Joseph Gerstner. It’s a print, meaning that the image was created by cutting lines into a metal plate, inking the plate, and then pressing it onto paper. The material quality of the print – the fineness of the lines, the evenness of the ink – speaks to the skill of the printmaker. But it also speaks to the social context in which this image was made. Printmaking was a relatively democratic medium. Compared to painting, prints could be produced quickly and in large numbers. This made them an ideal way to circulate images of important people like Ayrenhoff, who was a lieutenant field marshal. The very act of reproducing his image, making it available to a wider audience, was a way of solidifying his status and power. So, while this print may seem like a simple portrait, it’s also a reflection of the social and political forces at play in 18th-century Europe. It’s a reminder that even the most seemingly straightforward images are always shaped by the materials, the making, and the context in which they were created.