Portret van Maria Christina van Oostenrijk

About this artwork

height 356 mm x width 250 mm

Art Historical Context

This etching by Swiss artist Jean-Étienne Liotard portrays Maria Christina of Austria, an archduchess of the Habsburg family and daughter of Empress Maria Theresa. Created between 1778 and 1782, the print measures 356 by 250 millimeters and reflects Liotard’s international career, during which he produced portraits for courts across Europe. Liotard was celebrated for his precise and elegant depictions of nobility, often working in pastels as well as printmaking. Etching, with its capacity for fine lines and subtle tonal effects, suited his meticulous approach and allowed wider circulation of royal images during the late eighteenth century. Maria Christina herself held political influence as joint governor of the Austrian Netherlands. This portrait thus combines personal likeness with dynastic significance, illustrating how prints helped shape public perceptions of European royalty in the era.

About the Artist

Jean-Etienne Liotard · 1692–1789

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