Dameportræt 1789 - 1857

Liepmann Fraenckel made this miniature portrait, using watercolor on ivory. The choice of ivory as a ground is significant. Its smooth, fine grain allowed for incredible detail, visible in the delicate rendering of the sitter's lace bonnet and the subtle gradations of her skin tone. But more than that, ivory was a luxury material, its whiteness and exotic origin imbuing the portrait with status. Consider the labor involved, not just in Fraenckel's delicate brushwork, but in the procurement and preparation of the ivory itself. This was a global material, obtained through colonial trade, and its very presence speaks to networks of power and consumption. The intimate scale of the portrait adds another layer. These miniatures were often kept as keepsakes, tokens of affection exchanged between family members or lovers. By focusing on the material and making of this object, we can see how even the most intimate of artworks are embedded in larger social and economic structures.