Artwork
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection is a print by August von Klöber. It dates from 1850 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This print presents a likeness of the composer Ludwig van Beethoven as he appeared in 1817.
About this work
Overview
This print presents a likeness of the composer Ludwig van Beethoven as he appeared in 1817. Executed as a photographic image, it was issued by the Photographic Society in Berlin, reflecting early 19th‑century efforts to disseminate portraiture through reproducible media.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures Beethoven during the final years of his life, a period marked by profound deafness and continued compositional activity. The portrait serves both as a visual record of the composer’s appearance and as a testament to his enduring cultural stature at the time of its creation.
Technique & Style
Produced using early photographic processes, the image is rendered in monochrome tones typical of the era’s prints. The composition emphasizes facial features and expression, employing a straightforward, documentary approach rather than artistic embellishment, characteristic of photographic portraiture in the 1810s.
History & Provenance
Issued by Berlin’s Photographic Society, the print was part of a broader initiative to circulate images of notable figures. Its distribution through the Society indicates an early institutional role in preserving and sharing visual documentation of prominent individuals.
Artist & collection
Artist
August von Klöber’s 19th-century prints capture everyday scenes with clean lines and careful shading.
