Portret van de arts Jean-Nicolas Corvisart 1830

This is a portrait of the physician Jean-Nicolas Corvisart, made by Charles Louis Bazin, who was born in 1802 and died in 1859. It's a print, meaning that it's not a unique image, but rather one of many made from a matrix. Prints like this are fascinating because they sit at the intersection of art and industry. Unlike a painting or sculpture, which is made by hand, prints rely on mechanical processes to reproduce an image. Consider the labor involved: the artist first creates the image on a plate, and then the printer uses a press to transfer the image onto paper. This division of labor is characteristic of industrial production, and it allowed prints to be made quickly and cheaply. As a result, images like this one could be widely disseminated, helping to shape public opinion and spread new ideas. So, the next time you look at a print, remember that it's not just a pretty picture. It's also a product of its time, reflecting the social and economic forces that shaped its creation.