Lodewyk XVI
Medium
Graphic Arts-Print
Classification
Graphic Arts-Print
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly
Accession Number
1929.7.65
Art Historical Context
"Lodewyk XVI" is a captivating print by Belgian artist Lambertus Anton Claessens, housed the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection. Created as a graphic arts print—likely an engraving or etching—this work exemplifies the precision and detail achievable in 19th-century printmaking techniques. Claessens, for his skill in reproducing historical portraits, captures the essence of his subject through fine lines and tonal contrasts, a hallmark of the medium that allowed for widespread dissemination of imagery before photography dominated. The title "Lodewyk XVI" refers to Louis XVI, the ill-...