Geschiedenis van Pieter Hazenhart c. 1843 - 1920

This print, titled "Geschiedenis van Pieter Hazenhart," was made by W. Lichtenheld using lithography, a process that democratized image production. The imagery depicts the story of a soldier, broken up into a grid of sequential scenes. Lithography involves drawing with a greasy crayon on a flat stone or metal plate. The surface is then treated so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas, allowing for multiple impressions. This method enabled the mass production of images, like this one, making art more accessible to a wider audience, beyond the elite who could afford unique paintings or engravings. The very nature of lithography, with its reliance on reproducible marks, reflects the rise of industrialization and consumer culture. It's a fascinating example of how a specific making process can tie into wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption. Lichtenheld’s work prompts us to consider how printmaking techniques can bring art closer to everyday life.