Curatorial Narrative As one of the few extant works by Angilbert Gbel, “Bildnis des Frankfurter Kupferstechers Johann Eisenhardt” assumes an esteemed position within the pantheon of 19th-century portraiture. Executed in the soft, nuanced manner characteristic of realist technique, this work embodies a rarefied atmosphere reminiscent of the late morning hours when the warm light of dawn has not yet given way to the harsh glare of noonday. Gbel’s employment of monochromatic shades of gray and white creates an intricate web of tonal relationships that imbue the subject with an almost three-dimensional presence within the two-dimensional confines of the print. When enlarged to 44×55, the chromatic structure of “Bildnis des Frankfurter Kupferstechers Johann Eisenhardt” assumes a commanding presence. The monochromatic palette takes on a newfound depth and luminosity, as the subtle gradations of gray and white appear to vibrate with an a