Frankrijk. - 34,500,000 inwoners 1850

This educational print, titled "Frankrijk. - 34,500,000 inwoners," was made by Jan Schuitemaker. It is a lithograph, a printmaking process that relies on the chemical repulsion between oil and water. Here, a design was drawn on a flat stone or metal plate with a greasy substance. The stone was then treated with acid and gum arabic, making the untouched areas repel the oily ink, which would adhere only to the drawing. The printmaker could then transfer the image to paper. The lithographic process allowed for the relatively easy reproduction of images and text, making knowledge accessible to a wider audience. The choice of the lithograph technique is not merely about reproduction, but about the social context of disseminating knowledge through affordable prints, reflecting the increasing emphasis on education and information in society. Lithography was a powerful tool for spreading information, a visual technology aligned with the development of mass media and education.