Brug bij de hoge vijver 1822 - 1845

This print, Brug bij de hoge vijver, was made using a technique known as lithography. It's a process that starts with a flat slab of limestone. The artist draws on the stone with a greasy crayon, then treats it with chemicals so that only the drawn areas will hold ink. Lithography made it possible to produce images in large numbers. It was perfectly suited to the rise of illustrated newspapers and magazines. This meant images could be disseminated quickly and widely, contributing to the formation of public opinion and shared cultural experiences. Consider the labor involved: from quarrying the limestone, to the skilled hand of the artist, to the press operators churning out prints. In its own way, a print like this reflects the industrializing world it depicts. By understanding the materials, making, and social context, we can appreciate the artwork's full meaning.