Schutterij / te paard en te voet 1850 - 1870

This print, titled "Schutterij / te paard en te voet," was made by Jacob Coldewijn, and captures a moment in Dutch military life. The printmaking process itself is key here. Created using engraving or etching, the lines are precise and economical, defining the figures of the guardsmen and their horses with clarity. Consider the labor involved: each line carefully incised into the plate, then inked and pressed onto paper. This was a means of mass production, making imagery accessible to a wider audience, beyond the elite who could afford paintings. But also think about how this reflects the social role of the military at the time, and how printmaking democratized military images. The precision and attention to detail are very striking here, reminding us of the immense labor required to produce such an image. This artwork compels us to think about the materials, techniques, and social context of its making, challenging our conventional ideas of fine art.