Portret van Wenzel Xaver Neumann von Puchholz

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

Welcome to our virtual gallery, where we spotlight *Portret van Wenzelaver Neumann von Puch*, an elegant engraving by Jan Balzer from the late 18th century (1772–1799). This portrait captures the likeness of Wenzel Xaver von Puchholz, a nobleman from Central European aristocracy, during the Enlightenment era when such images celebrated status and intellect. Balzer, a printmaker, contributed to the tradition of detailed reproductive portraits that made elite figures accessible beyond oil paintings. Engraving, the medium here, exemplifies intaglio techniques popular in the 1700s: artists incise fine lines into a metal plate, ink fills the grooves, and pressure transfers the image to paper, yielding rich contrasts and precision. This method allowed for multiple impressions, democratizing portraiture amid growing print culture in Europe. A collector's mark (Lugt 2228) on the sheet hints at its esteemed provenance, linking it to a distinguished 18th- or 19th-century collector. Though dimensions are unrecorded, such engravings were intimate keepsakes, blending artistry with historical snapshot of noble life. A fine example of Rococo-to-Neoclassical transitions!