Study Sheet with Portraits of Hans Hess and Albert Klesse

Greiner employed lithographic printing on a thin paper support adhered to a sturdier backing (chine collé), allowing fine line work and subtle tonal gradations. Dark shading models the faces, creating depth, while stark light‑dark contrasts enhance the three‑dimensional impression of the portraits.

Created in the late nineteenth century, the print entered the National Gallery of Art’s holdings through acquisition, though the precise path of ownership prior to its museum entry is not recorded in the available documentation.

The work reflects Greiner’s interest in portraiture during a period when printmaking served both artistic and documentary purposes. Its straightforward, realist rendering aligns with the broader trends of German graphic art of the 1890s, preceding the later rise of Impressionist influences in print media.