Jonge soldaat in gesprek met een oudere heer 1832

Nicolas Toussaint Charlet made this lithograph, “Young soldier talking to an older gentleman,” using a relatively new printing technique, at a time when such images were a popular way to circulate political messages. The lithographic process involves drawing on a flat stone with a greasy crayon, then treating the stone so that ink adheres only to the drawn areas. This allows for relatively quick and easy reproduction of images, compared to older techniques like etching or engraving. In this image, the material qualities of the lithograph – its subtle gradations of tone and fine lines – lend themselves well to capturing the details of the figures' clothing and expressions. Charlet uses the print to make a comment on class differences, and social mobility during the post-Revolutionary, Napoleonic era of French history. The amount of work involved in creating the original drawing, and then printing multiple copies, speaks to the growing democratization of art production in the 19th century. By focusing on the materials and processes used to create this print, we can better understand its historical and social context, and appreciate the artist's skill in using a relatively new medium to convey a powerful message.