Portret van Gerard Conrad Bernard Suringar

About this artwork

blad: hoogte 458 mm x breedte 369 mm

Art Historical Context

"Portret van Gerard Conrad Suringar" is a striking lithograph created by Johann Peter Berghaus April 3, 1846. This portrait captures the likeness of Gerard Conrad Bernard Suringar, a prominent figure likely from Dutch intellectual circles, rendered in a precise and detailed manner typical of mid-19th portraiture. Measuring 458 mm in height 369 mm in width the print showcases Berghaus's skill in translating personal resemblance onto paper, making it accessible to a wider audience beyond the elite. Lithography, the chosen medium, revolutionized printmaking in the 19th century by allowing artists to draw directly on limestone with greasy crayon, producing fine gradations of tone and texture that mimicked drawing. Berghaus, active in this era, exploited the technique's affordability and fidelity to create reproductions of notable individuals, bridging art and commemoration. This method democratized portraiture, enabling scholars, patrons, and the public to own images of influential figures like Suringar. As a cultural artifact from 1846, the work reflects the Romantic era's emphasis on individuality and legacy, preserving Suringar's image amid Europe's growing fascination with biography and science. Visitors will appreciate its technical elegance and historical snapshot of 19th-century scholarly life.