Portret van Johann Christian Wiegleb 1761 - 1789

This portrait of Johann Christian Wiegleb was made by Carl Christian Glassbach, and it’s an engraving. The artist has used a printmaking technique, manipulating the surface of a metal plate to create an image, then transferring it to paper. Look closely, and you’ll see how the lines vary in thickness, creating a sense of volume and texture. Engraving was a labor-intensive process, requiring skilled artisans to meticulously carve the design. Consider the number of prints that would have been made from a single plate, each one demanding time and precision. In a way, prints like these were the photographs of their time, allowing for the relatively inexpensive distribution of images. Prints like these collapse traditional hierarchies of art and craft. They are hand-made, yet also reproducible, occupying a space between unique artwork and mass-produced commodity. Recognizing this intersection helps us appreciate the full spectrum of skills, labor, and social context that shaped the artwork.