Reliëf met een portret van Paul Pretsch before 1905

This embossed relief portrait of Paul Pretsch, is nestled in the pages of an old book, likely made with metal. You can see the effort and care that went into pressing the material to achieve the likeness of Pretsch. I imagine the artist hunched over their workbench, tools in hand, carefully manipulating the metal, trying to capture the essence of their subject. I wonder what they were thinking as they worked? Were they friends with Pretsch? Did they admire his work? The subtle variations in depth create a sense of dimension and volume. It makes me want to reach out and touch it, to feel the texture of the metal under my fingertips. It reminds me of the kind of work that was being done by printmakers and medalists at the time. This piece is part of a conversation about capturing images and likenesses and the dialogue between technology and art.