Portret van prins Moritz zu Isenburg 1763 - 1811

Carl Friedrich Holtzmann made this print of Prince Moritz zu Isenburg, likely dating to around 1763. This isn't drawing or painting, but printmaking, and that makes all the difference. Look closely, and you'll see that the image is made up of thousands of tiny lines, all precisely incised into a metal plate, which was then inked and pressed onto paper. Holtzmann would have used specialized tools for this meticulous task, following established techniques passed down through generations of artisans. The cross-hatching creates tone, and it's really impressive to see how much detail he was able to get out of a few basic marks. This wasn't just a technical feat, but a social act. Printmaking allowed images to be reproduced and disseminated widely, helping to spread ideas and shape public opinion. In this case, the print would have served to publicize the image of the Prince, reinforcing his status and authority through circulation.