Artwork

Bust of Ludwig van Beethoven

Bust of Ludwig van Beethoven, by Josef Kriehuber, 1827
Bust of Ludwig van Beethoven, by Josef Kriehuber, 1827

Bust of Ludwig van Beethoven is a print by the Romanticist artist Josef Kriehuber. It dates from 1827 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This print is a portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven, created by Josef Kriehuber in 1827. It is a black-and-white drawing held at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing depicts Beethoven's head and shoulders, with curly, unkempt hair and a high-collared shirt, set against a plain oval background. The inclusion of his name, dates, and a city name below the image confirms the subject's identity as the renowned composer.

Technique & Style

The portrait is rendered in a simple yet expressive style, characteristic of Romanticism, an art movement that emphasizes emotion and individualism. The use of light shading around the edges of the oval background adds a touch of subtlety to the overall composition.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Josef Kriehuber

Artist

Josef Kriehuber

Josef Kriehuber was an Austrian lithographer and painter, notable for the high quality of his lithographic portraits.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.