Portret Herman Johan Engelkens 1843 - 1863

This is a portrait of Herman Johan Engelkens, made by Johan Hendrik Hoffmeister using lithography. This printmaking process involves working on a flat stone or metal plate with a greasy substance, then applying ink which adheres only to those areas. The appeal of lithography was in its relatively direct means of production; it allowed for a drawing-like effect that other printmaking processes didn't. In this portrait, the softness of the lithographic crayon allowed Hoffmeister to render the textures of Engelkens's clothing with precision. But what makes it particularly compelling is how the printmaking process relates to the subject. The mechanization of image production chimes well with the rise of a new industrial and professional class, of which Engelkens was a part. Ultimately, this portrait, like others of its kind, documents the means of production in nineteenth-century society. By considering the labor, processes, and materials, we appreciate the cultural and social meanings embedded in this artwork.