Spotprent 1878

This print, made in 1878 by Johan Michaël Schmidt Crans, is a lithograph, a process that democratized image-making in the 19th century. Lithography allowed for relatively quick and inexpensive reproduction of images. Here, we see that the artist used the printed line to mimic the look of an etching or engraving, which would have been more laborious to produce, and therefore more exclusive. Consider the implications: this satirical artwork, commenting on the relationship between military officers and civil servants, could be widely circulated. The use of lithography here is not just a technical choice. It's a reflection of a changing social and political landscape, where mass media and public opinion were beginning to play a larger role. In this context, the choice of lithography is as important as the image itself in understanding the work's meaning.