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.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
August von Klöber’s 19th-century prints capture everyday scenes with clean lines and careful shading.
