Vertrek van de Gardes d'Honneur van Amsterdam, 1813 1813 - 1815

This print, "Departure of the Amsterdam Honor Guard, 1813" was made by Reinier Vinkeles. Vinkeles has worked with a technique called etching and engraving, both of which rely on the corrosive properties of acid to create an image in metal, which is then inked and printed. It's a sophisticated, labor-intensive method, far removed from the immediate gesture of drawing or painting. The fine, precise lines allow for incredible detail, capturing the poignancy of this historical moment with remarkable clarity. The choice of printmaking is significant. It's a medium inherently suited to reproduction and distribution. While Vinkeles was a skilled artist, printmaking also facilitated wider access to his work. It democratizes the image, making it available to a broader public, and creating a shared visual culture. So, when we look at this print, we're not just seeing a historical scene. We're also engaging with a technology that, in its own way, was shaping the social and political landscape of the time. This challenges the traditional idea of prints as mere reproductions, but recognizes their important role in art history, material culture, and political change.