Haarlemmermeer, 1667-1867 1867

Edouard Taurel created this print, "Haarlemmermeer, 1667-1867," using lithography, a process that democratized image-making in the 19th century. Unlike earlier forms of printmaking like etching or engraving, lithography doesn't require the artist to cut into a metal plate; it relies on the resistance between grease and water to transfer an image from a stone or metal plate to paper. In this print, lithography allows for a high level of detail, capturing the changes in the Haarlemmermeer region over two centuries. The scenes show the evolving landscape and architecture, from windmills to steam engines, reflecting shifts in technology and industry. This print isn't just a record of place, but also of labor and progress, made accessible through an innovative printing process. It's important to consider how lithography itself, as a means of production, ties into broader social and economic changes. By making images more readily available, it changed the way people consumed and understood the world. This print is a product of its time, both in its subject matter and in the very means of its making.