Portrait of Archduke Carl Ludwig 1872

Josef Kriehuber made this portrait of Archduke Carl Ludwig using watercolor. The Archduke's likeness emerges from delicate washes and subtle gradations of color, almost as if captured on a glass plate using the new science of photography. Kriehuber was a master of lithography, a printmaking technique that allowed for the relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images, but the labor involved in creating the original watercolor shouldn't be overlooked. Watercolors demand meticulous attention to detail, requiring hours of skilled work to build up the subtle layers of pigment. In the pre-photographic era, there was a high demand for images across social classes. Kriehuber and other artists thus played a crucial role in disseminating imagery, offering affordable likenesses and glimpses into the lives of the aristocracy. Considering the materials and processes involved is essential for understanding the full social and cultural significance of this seemingly straightforward portrait. It invites us to reflect on the intersections of art, craft, and the rise of mass media in the 19th century.