Portret van Leopold I

About this artwork

staalgravure en gravure; proefdruk

Art Historical Context

This striking steel engraving, created by Irish-born artist Erin Corr in 1834, captures Leopold I, Belgium’s first king, at a pivotal moment in European history. Just three years after Leopold ascended the throne following Belgium’s independence from the Netherlands, the portrait reflects the new nation’s desire to project stability and royal legitimacy. Corr, known for his precise reproductive engravings, translated an official painted likeness into a widely distributable print format that helped shape the public image of the monarch across Europe. The work’s medium is especially significant...

About the Artist

Erin Corr · 1803–1862

Erin Corr (1803–1862) was an Irish engraver of exceptional skill and dedication, born in Brussels of Irish descent on an unknown date in 1803 and dying on August 10, 1862. His career exemplified the internationalism of 19th-century European art, as he trained in Belgium and France before establishing himself as a professor at the Antwerp Academy, where he influenced the next generation of engraver...